ResDance Series 4: Episode 3: Journeying into academic research with Dance Mama In this episode, Lucy McCrudden (Dance Mama) shares insight into her experiences within dance and her journey as the Founder of dancemama.org –a professional hub and platform for parents in dance and the arts.  Through drawing upon such experiences, she reflects upon the dancers, practitioners, researchers and organisations who continue to inspire her, both personally and professionally.  Bringing awareness to the practical solutions dance and Dance Mama can create to better support parents, Lucy shares insight into her PhD research studies and her aspirations for the future.  Throughout the episode, Lucy highlights the need for greater advocacy in bringing voice to support parents and empower them to navigate their dance career and parenthood. Lucy McCrudden, aka Dance Mama, is a London-based dance entrepreneur and advocate. She is Founder of dancemama.org - a community, information and professional development hub and platform profiling significant parents in dance and the arts. Lucy has instigated international and national networks for colleagues working with dancing parents. Lucy has dove-tailed her own work with holding key positions in learning and participation over the last 20 years. These include: Dance Artist in Residence for DanceXchange (2004), Manager for London Contemporary Dance School, The Place, Centre for Advanced Training (2005-11), Expert Panel member of the DFE Music and Dance Scheme representing the National Dance CATs (2007-2010), Vice-Chair of Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Arts Grants Panel (2006-2009), Learning & Participation Manager, Rambert (2014-16), Chair of the Board of Trustees Dance Woking (2014-16), Head of Learning and Participation, Rambert (2016-18) and Project Manager Chance to Dance, Royal opera House (2019-20).   As an independent specialist she has taught over 19,000 people across the UK and has engaged with a wide variety of dance and arts organisations in many other capacities: consultant, management, choreography, and presenting/public speaking. She is Ambassador for the Parents in Performing Arts Campaign. She has a Honourable Mention for the inaugural AWA Woman in Dance Award and nominee for the One Dance UK Awards 2021, winner of the Changemaker One Dance UK Awards 2022 and nominee for AWA Woman In Dance Leadership Award, starting a PhD in the same year at Christ Church Canterbury University.  Contact details:  Website: dancemama.org   Instagram: @lucymccrudden   Facebook: @thedancemama    Other resources: TEDx Class Programme FilmThe Podcast    Please share this episode with students, educators, practitioners, performers, and interdisciplinary researchers curious to learn more about dance research in action.