Join us for a Dance for PD®Introductory Training Workshopfor dancers, dance teachers, students, therapists, and allied health professionalsThursday, Nov. 13-Friday, Nov. 14, 2025The Dance Centre, Scotiabank Dance CenterVancouver, BC, Canadapresented by Dancing with Parkinson's Canada and
Mark Morris Dance Group/Dance for PD, in partnership with Dance for Parkinson’s Network Canada and Canada's National Ballet School
Get training in an acclaimed global program that helps people with Parkinson's experience the joys and benefits of dance. ► Learn best practices and evidence-based methods from expert Dance for PD founders and teaching artists in the only dance-based training program accredited by the Parkinson's Foundation. ► Hone your teaching skills. ► Deepen your knowledge with our specially-created modules and acclaimed interactive sessions. ► Become part of a global network of passionate instructors in 30 countries. ►
Participate in an actual Dance for Parkinson's community class with members of the Vancouver Parkinson's community. "A dynamic workshop and a fabulous life experience. I could not have been more pleased with time well spent.”—Dance for PD workshop trainee "Dance for PD® is a hands-down success. It’s one of the most important programs for Parkinson’s disease in the country."—Mary Ellen Thibodeau, RN, RI Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association We invite you to apply via the button below. About Dance for PD® workshops
Since 2007, more than 2,500 people from 30 countries have participated in Dance for PD® (Parkinson's Disease) workshops and seminars, designed and produced by the Mark Morris Dance Group. Our educational programs are designed to enrich, inform and inspire a diverse group of individuals who want to learn about the unique approach
of this internationally acclaimed community arts & health program from its original creators. To learn more about our complete four-step training program, including the pre-requisite online course, please click here. This workshop is designed primarily to help dance teaching artists adapt your expertise to work effectively and comfortably with the Parkinson’s population under the guidelines and methodology of the Dance for PD® program. You'll cover special modules that focus on class structure, pedagogy and exercise design, and participate in a practicum class to
develop class content and teaching techniques with founding teachers and other trainees, in addition to covering general modules about safety and working with Parkinson’s participants. Dance for PD is a Parkinson's Foundation Accredited Exercise Education Program.
Although this workshop is specifically geared toward dance teachers, we welcome a diverse group of individuals—Physical and Occupational Therapists, movement educators and fitness instructors—who may be interested in the workshop for Educational & Professional
Enrichment (EPE). The EPE program is designed to provide a comprehensive and intimate look at core components of the Dance for PD® program so that a wide variety of individuals without dance training or dance teaching experience can learn about our methods and benefit from our resources. Our introductory workshops are non-certifying. Attendance at one of our introductory workshops is a
prerequisite to qualify for our Dance Teacher certification program or Registered Teaching Assistant program. You will be required to complete an introductory online course in order to attend this in-person workshop.
All trainees must satisfactorily complete an asynchronous 8-module online training program before attending the live synchronous online workshop. The cost of this 8-module course is $145 USD/$205 CAD for non-members, $132 USD/$186 CAD for members. It is expected that the self-directed course will take 8-10 hours to complete. You'll receive a link to this course when we approve your training
application.
Facilitators: David Leventhal, Dance for PD founding teacher and Program Director, Brooklyn, NY Sarah Robichaud, Founder and CEO, Dancing with
Parkinson's Canada, Certified Dance for PD teaching artist, Toronto, ON Schedule: Thursday, November 13 and Friday, November 14, 2025 from 9 AM - 6 PM
Location: The Dance Centre, Scotiabank Dance Centre, Level 6, 677 Davie Street, Vancouver BC V6B 2G6 Canada Highlights: Comprehensive training modules, interactive teaching
practicum, demo class, safety best practices, networking. Credits: Earn up to 30 training credits toward the 50 credits required to be eligible for Dance for PD certification. COVID-19 safety: Please keep in mind that the workshop will include members of our community who may be more vulnerable to the serious effects of COVID. Accommodations: Please click here for a map of local accommodations.
Standard rate: $300 USD/$415 CAD Dance for PD Member rate: $250 USD/$346 CAD Dancing with Parkinson's Canada may choose specific qualified Canadian applicants who are interested in facilitating classes in British Columbia to receive a full training
scholarship in return for a two-year commitment. To be considered, please complete the training application linked below. Tuition includes a one-year Dance for PD® program membership with special access to continuing education materials and tools (a $120 USD value), complimentary lifetime access to five volumes of instructional media (Video on Demand), free downloads of Dance for PD music albums, and
access to our international online teachers' forum. Financial aid and partial scholarship may be available to qualified teaching artists. Note about online course Please note that workshop tuition does not include the pre-requisite online
course, which must be completed before the workshop. The self-directed, interactive online course takes around 8-10 hours and can be done over several weeks. You'll receive details about the online course when you apply for this workshop. No payment is required to apply. Please click below to complete our
application. We will notify you upon acceptance into the training program. At that point, we will let you know about accessing the online course and provide more information about workshop registration.
I'm interested. Now what?
- Complete the application linked below to pre-register and hold a place.
- Upon acceptance, complete the required online course (approximately 8-10 hours).
- Complete final registration and payment for the November workshop. Complete an agreement with Dancing
with Parkinson's if selected for the BC teaching cohort
- After the workshop, complete the online assessment and earn an Ofqual-accredited qualification.
Enrolment is limited to ensure an optimal learning environment for participants. Workshop places
are available on a first preregistered first reserved basis.
Please note: if you have already submitted a training application, please send an email to admin@danceforpd.org to pre-register for this workshop. You do not need to submit a second application.
"Extremely well coordinated, very respectful and appropriate content for a broad range of learners!"—Workshop attendee
"This workshop was completely satisfying, both on personal and professional levels. I thoroughly enjoyed each day's activities and the way in which [the trainer] conducted the discussions and experientials. His teaching ability is outstanding, along with his understanding of group process...I feel uplifted and inspired by all I
witnessed..."—Trainee "My staff reported to me that this was the only training they had ever received in movement/exercise other than cursory information during nursing assistant or nursing training. They were so excited to start using the tools immediately and have other staff to partner with for spontaneous play with each other and the residents."—Workshop attendee
and assisted living facility senior manager "I learned more than I could have ever imagined and I love to dance more than I ever imagined. I have already utilized some of your ideas into my treatment approaches with my patients and they have worked GREAT!"—Participant and doctor of physical therapy
The Mark Morris Dance Group's Dance for PD® program invites people with Parkinson's and their families in more than 400 communities and 30 countries around the globe to experience the joys and benefits of dance while creatively addressing symptom-specific concerns related to balance, cognition, motor skill, depression and physical confidence. Through its innovative, internationally-replicated classes, acclaimed teacher training program, and high quality media resources, Dance for PD's fundamental working principle since 2001 is that professionally-trained dancers are movement experts whose knowledge about balance, sequencing, rhythm and aesthetic awareness is useful to persons with PD. In class, teaching artists integrate movement from modern,
ballet, tap, folk and social dancing, and choreographic repertory to engage participants' minds and bodies and create an enjoyable, social environment for artistic exploration. Dance for PD has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Dance
Magazine, The Guardian and hundreds of other publications,and has been honored by several local, national and international awards, including the Parkinson Awareness Award, Alan Bonander Humanitarian Award, and the Sapolin Public Service Award from the New York City Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. Peer-reviewed research from 50 published studies suggests that the Dance for PD approach provides a range of benefits, including improved walking and short-term mobility, enhanced quality of life, and self-efficacy, slowing of symptom progression, and improvements in mood and social inclusion among people with Parkinson's. More at www.danceforpd.org.
About Dancing with Parkinson's Canada
Dancing with Parkinson’s Canada is a Canadian nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the lives of people living with Parkinson’s disease and seniors through the joy of dance. Offering free, accessible classes both online and in person, we create welcoming spaces where participants can move, connect, and thrive regardless of age, stage, or mobility level. Rooted in the evidence-based
Dance for PD® Method, our programs combine artistry with research-informed approaches to support physical mobility, balance, and coordination, while also nourishing creativity, confidence, and emotional well-being. Beyond the health benefits, each class fosters an inclusive, intergenerational community where participants, care partners, and support workers combat isolation together and celebrate the power of artistic expression.
By bringing dance into homes, studios, and community centers across the country, Dancing with Parkinson’s Canada ensures that everyone has the opportunity to experience the transformative and life-affirming impact of movement.
About Canada's National Ballet School
Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS), located in Toronto and founded in 1959, is a world-renowned institution where professional dance training, academics, and residential care converge on a single campus. In addition to its elite ballet instruction, NBS is deeply committed to community outreach through its
flagship initiative, Sharing Dance—a nationwide program offering free, high-quality dance resources and annual multigenerational celebrations, such as the beloved Sharing Dance Day, which began as a flash mob in 2010 and has since united Canadians coast to coast through choreography, creativity, and joy.
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