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• Dance Science
Caroline Miller, Director, Dance UK
Dance Science is a relatively new but fast growing area of research and study. Its two aims are to
investigate ways of enhancing dance training, optimising dancer performance and exploring the physiological and psychological effect of dance as a form of physical activity. By recognising the dancer as an artist athlete, Dance Scientists strive to optimise the dancer’s potential as an elite performer through areas such as physiology, psychology and biomechanics. By measuring the effect of regular dance activity, Dance Scientists explore the unique role that dance can play among other populations.It is an exciting time to be involved in Dance Science. The number of questions emerging from the field far outweigh the number of answers and it is remarkable that until only recently the words ‘dance’ and ‘science’ would have been rarely used within the same sentence.
Laban developed the first ever Masters Degree in Dance Science and has been involved in many innovative Dance Science research projects. With over 300 dance students in full-time professional training and strong relationships with many UK leading Contemporary Dance companies, Laban has unparalleled access to potential research participants which gives both credibility and validity to any investigation.
LABAN’S ROLE IN DANCE SCIENCE
Laban is known internationally as a leader in Dance Science and has a strong connection with the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS). In 2003, Laban hosted the IADMS annual conference and during the last 5 years, there have been more presentations at the conference from Laban than any other institution in the world. The Programme Leader of the MSc Dance Science course at Laban, Emma Redding, is currently a member of the IADMS Board of Directors. Working in association with Dance UK’s Healthier Dancer programme, Laban has pioneered research in Dance Science and health and continues to work for better health provision for dancers.
The first Masters degree of its kind in the world, the MSc Dance Science sits within Laban’s dance health department which includes a Dance Science Laboratory, large Pilates studio and a variety of treatment rooms. The programme explores the scientific issues underlying dance performance, technical training, dancer health and injury prevention, looking at ways to optimise performance, improve training techniques and enhance performer potential. The programme examines the qualitative and quantitative aspects of dance practice, introducing elements from a range of scientific disciplines and applying them to a dance context.
Dance Science investigates the quantitative and qualitative aspects of dance training and performance, combining a range of scientific disciplines into a flexible working practice for dancers, choreographers and dance teachers.
Issues of dance performance and dancer health are at the forefront of thinking about dance and the purpose of Dance Science research is to help enhance and improve the experience of dance training, to maximise its effectiveness and to show responsibility in teaching and dancing.
* Optimising performance
* Improving training techniques
* Injury prevention
* Enhancing dancer potential
* The impact of Somatics
* Dancer's health
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