ResDance Series 5: Episode 9: Critical Pedagogies in dance education and training - Nurturing the creative agent dancer with Phaedra Petsilas In this episode, Phaedra shares insight into her experiences as a dancer, educator and researcher and how these continue to inform her practices in mentoring and supporting dance students to achieve their full potential as creative and thinking dance artists.  We discuss ways of approaching dance training and explore how Phaedra uses theoretical ideas...

In this episode, Rajyashree Ramesh shares her wealth of experiences as a performer-choreographer, Certified Laban Movement Analyst, Movement Researcher and Cultural Scientist. Through the sharing of her cross-cultural journey of dance and body knowledge in cultural traditions, she revels her thinking around the centrality of the body in relation to bodily experience, felt and embodied meaning and approaches to findings a holistic sensed experience of the body. Rajyashree reflects upon her own...

Applications of psychology research in the dance sector with Lucie Clements In this episode, Lucie shares insight into her own experiences in dance and her work as “the dance psychologist”, developing evidence-based support for performing artists.  Alongside sharing the approaches employed in her educational and coaching practices and research, Lucie discusses her wider thinking around the role of psychology in dance and a greater awareness of psychological support for performing artists,...

ResDance Series 5: Episode 6: Improvisation as a transdisciplinary practice for unstable times with Jo Pollitt In this episode, Jo shares insight into her practice of improvisation across several performance, choreographic and scholarly platforms.  Alongside sharing the processes and approaches employed in her research, she explores the theoretical frameworks that more widely inform her practice and ways of working with improvisation as method.  Throughout the episode, Jo reflects upon her...

ResDance Series 5: Episode 5: Rediscovering why dance matters with Heather Harrington  In this episode, Heather shares insight into her experiences as a dancer, scholar, figure skater, choreographer, and educator who believes in the value of movement and wider dance practices in shifting societal norms.  Heather discusses the approaches and methodologies employed in her research and the importance of working in a cross-collaborative manner, drawing knowledge from a variety of disciplines in...

ResDance Series 5: Episode 4: Widening awareness and learning on mental health in dance with Manisha Aggarwal In this episode, Manisha discusses her interests in supporting dancers with their mental health and wider considerations of mental health within the dance sector, more generally. Through situating thinking around her current PhD research, Manisha shares her thinking around barriers around mental health in dance, the application of research findings to sport and dance settings and the...

ResDance Series 5: Episode 3: Dance Pedagogy and collaborative learning with Ashleigh Ritchie In this episode, Ashleigh shares insight into her experiences as a pedagogue and researcher, with research interests in Dance Pedagogy and collaborative learning and teaching with students as partners.  Underpinned by the coming together of theoretical knowledge and practice in the ‘doing’ of teaching, Ashleigh discusses the theoretical frameworks that inform her research and teaching practices. ...

ResDance Series 5: Episode 2: Considerations of the screen as a site of discovery and creation with Harmony Bench In this episode, Harmony shares insight into ways of thinking about the screen as a site of creation, dissemination and discovery.  Alongside sharing the processes and approaches employed in her research, Harmony discusses the theoretical frameworks that more widely inform her research and reflects upon her translation of thinking across discourse as an interdisciplinary...

ResDance Series 5: Episode 1:  Rewilding potential for creating lasting positive legacies in practice with Sara Wookey In this episode, Sara discusses and reflects upon her work and practice around the idea of experiences as a mode for discovery and enlightenment. Alongside sharing the processes and approaches employed in her research, Sara shares insights into the theoretical frameworks that more widely inform her practice-based research and considerations around the shifting of practices...

ResDance Series 4: Episode 11:  Reflections and considerations on the role heritage plays in the creation of contemporary dance works with Ceyda Tanc In this episode, Ceyda shares insight into her experiences in dance both as a dancer and a choreographer, creating professional contemporary dance works drawing on Turkish folk culture.  Through reflecting upon her personal and professional experiences, we explore the importance acknowledging her heritage plays in her practice and the approaches...

ResDance Series 4: Episode 10: Ballet and the Black British dancer experience with Sandie Bourne In this episode, Dr Sandie Bourne shares insight into her experiences in dance and takes the listener on a journey on how her early experience of ballet inspired her PhD in Dance Studies at the University of Roehampton where she wrote her thesis, Black British Ballet: Race, Representation & Aesthetics.  Through reflecting upon her personal and professional experiences, we discuss how...

ResDance Series 4: Episode 9: Promoting positive parental involvement in performance settings: suggestions for research and practice with Camilla Knight. In this episode, Camilla shares insight into her research interests concerned with understanding and enhancing the psychosocial experiences of children in sport. With a particular focus upon the influence of parents in performance settings, we discuss the potential barriers and considerations to promoting positive parental involvement,...

ResDance Series 4: Episode 8: Studio as site: Voicing bodies through research in dance pedagogy with Jamie Dryburgh In this episode, Jamie shares insight into his experiences as a dancer, pedagogue and researcher and how these have informed his research interests in learning experiences through dance technique(s) from within the studio. We discuss the research methodologies and approaches employed in his PhD research and his role in putting himself as a teacher, mover and researcher who...

ResDance Series 4: Episode 7: Conversations in Dance of the African Diaspora with Funmi Adewole In this episode, Funmi shares insight into her background in media, education and the arts and her performing experiences in various context and settings, across dance and theatre. Through reflecting upon the ways in which she works in an interdisciplinary or cross-sectorial focus, she explores the role storytelling has in her practice and the importance of context in relation to conversation and...

ResDance Series 4: Episode 6: Validating within Resilience with Nadra Assaf In this episode, Nadra shares insight into her experiences in dance as a dancer, choreographer, educator and researcher and reflects upon her work in dance in the Middle East. A keen advocate for the arts, Nadra shares her passion for education and reflects upon the difficulties she has experienced in relation to the acceptance of dance as a research practice and the barriers she continues to face in her own dance...

ResDance Series 4: Episode 5: Finding a sense of understanding beyond the movement: Reflections and considerations with Abi Mortimer In this episode, Abi shares insight into her experiences in dance thus far and draws upon her thinking as a dancer, maker and educator. Reflecting upon the questions she poses to herself in these different roles, we discuss the role of the body in her practice and the challenges of composing work to exist on her own body and those of others.  Highlighting the...

ResDance Series 4: Episode 4: Noticing in improvisation practices with Sally Doughty In this episode, Sally shares insight into her research interests in movement improvisation practices. Through locating her thinking in her making and performing experiences, we explore ideas in relation to the role of ‘noticing’, the body as a corporeal archive and the role of decision making in her improvisational practice.  In this episode, Sally highlights the importance of the centrality of a...

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...

ResDance Series 4: Episode 2: The dialogue between access and creativity in dance practice with Susanna Dye In this episode, Susanna reflects up her thinking and experiences working with movement and dance in community, education and interdisciplinary performance contexts. Through exploring her ways of working, she shares insight into her processes of identifying and dismantling access barriers she experiences in her professional practice.  Underpinned by her question of “what is moving me...

ResDance Series 4: Episode 1: Shape-shifting and renavigation with Antonia Grove In this episode, Antonia shares rich insight into her journey as an independent artist and reflects upon the experiences that continue to shape her practice.  Through exploring her previous collaborations and areas of interest, she brings to light questions around stereotypical masculine/feminine binaries, risk-taking, expectation and ownership. Situating these ideas in her recent experience of Master’s study...

ResDance Series 3: Episode 11: Person-centredness, practice and advocacy with Karen Wood In this episode, Karen shares insight into the experiences and influences that continue to inform and shape her areas of practice.  Through discussing the core components of her practice, she reflects upon her interest in the experience of the moving body and the experiences of working, participating and viewing dance.  Karen advocates the importance of a person-centred approach and the need for greater...

ResDance Series 3: Episode 10: Chasing Curiosity with Matthew Henley In this episode, Matthew reflects upon his research journey and offers insights into his interests on describing cognitive and social-emotional skills associated with dance education.  We discuss key facets and characteristics of research and wider thinking in relation to the field of dance and associated disciplines. Through highlighting the need to give space to different ways of knowing, Matthew advocates the importance...

Series 3: Episode 9: ‘Shaking-Up’ Learning with Linzi McLagan In this episode, Linzi shares insight into her experiences as an educator in Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Further Education settings. Throughout the episode we reflect upon her dance research in Scottish Primary schools, with relation to projects such as: ‘Shake It Up’ and ‘Step It Up’ at YDance which aim to raise attainment and support the confidence and skills of primary teachers delivering dance as part of the curriculum...

ResDance Series 3: Episode 8: Bringing the voice of the freelance dance artist to the fore with Anna Watkins In this episode, Anna shares insight into her experiences as a freelance dancer and choreographer and the ways she continues to develop her artistic practice. We explore her experiences of being a freelance artist in relation to the challenges it can bring within the industry and the importance of ‘giving voice’ to mid-career and established artists. Anna draws upon experiences from...

ResDance Series 3: Episode 7: Performance Histories with Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel In this thought-provoking episode, Kathrina Farrugia-Kriel offers insight into her experiences as a researcher, educator and practitioner. Through discussion of her recent publication (the Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Ballet, 2021), she shares her thinking around the value of ballet histories within dance discourse. Highlighting throughout the episode the importance of brining individual voices to the fore,...