Introductory Training Workshopfor dancers, dance teachers, students, therapists, and allied health professionalsFriday, Jan. 30-Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026Miles Memorial Playhouse, Santa Monica, CA presented collaboratively by Dance for PD® (Mark Morris Dance Group) and Dancing Through Parkinson's® (Invertigo
Dance Theatre) 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/Dancing Through Parkinson's 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 Los Angeles 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 our workshopsSince 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. Dancing Through Parkinson’s has contributed to and expanded upon the mission of Dance for PD® by providing weekly classes, workshops, wellness events, and creative opportunities for the Los Angeles Parkinson’s community since 2011. Together, 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 Dance for PD's complete training program, including the pre-requisite online course, please click here. Is this for me?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 $165 USD for non-members, $138 USD 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 Maria Portman Kelly, Dance for PD Programs and Engagement Manager, Brooklyn, NY Rachel Whiting, Dancing Through Parkinson’s Lead Teaching Artist, Los Angeles, CA
Jessica Moneà Evans, Dancing Through Parkinson’s
Teaching Artist, Los Angeles, CA
Schedule: Fri. Jan. 30 and Sat. Jan. 31, 2026, 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Location: Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90403 Map it 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: All workshop participants must abide by the terms of the City of Santa Monica’s safety plan. This plan may change without notice, and additional requirements may be established. 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: $375 USD Dance for PD Member rate: $350 Partial scholarships and fellowships are available to qualified applicants on a case-by-case basis. Please include a statement of need on your application, or click here to apply for a Stanley J. Wertheimer Fellowship. 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. 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?- Fill out the background questionnaire linked below, which will lead you to complete a full application, pre-register and hold a place.
- Upon acceptance, complete the required online course (approximately 8-10 hours).
- Complete final registration and payment
for the January workshop (registration opens late December - all pre-registered applications will receive an email reminder)
- 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 Through Parkinson'sInvertigo Dance Theatre’s Dancing Through Parkinson’s (DTP) program is a vibrant, community-centered initiative that brings the joy, artistry, and holistic benefits of dance to people living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners. Rooted in creativity, connection, and inclusivity, DTP classes blend seated and standing movement, imaginative imagery, and musicality to
support mobility, balance, coordination, and emotional well-being. Led by specially trained instructors, the program fosters a supportive environment where participants can explore movement at their own pace, build confidence, and experience the power of dance as both expression and community. DTP takes neuro-specialized strategies and incorporates them into a dance class that benefits anyone looking for ways to boost cognitive care and mitigate physical symptoms of aging through creative
& evidence-based practices. With studios across Los Angeles and a growing presence online, Dancing Through Parkinson’s continues to be a vital resource—celebrating resilience, sparking joy, and ensuring that dance is accessible to all. More at www.invertigodance.org/dtp/. |
©2024 Mark Morris Dance Group/Dance for PD® | Dance for PD® is a program of Mark Morris Dance Group | 3 Lafayette Ave. | Brooklyn, NY
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