An introduction to using an external focus of attention in physiotherapy

Authors: Clare Guss-West & Johanna Osmala

If you use a roll, tape or other therapeutic resources in your day to day practice, or you use touch, ask for sensory feedback or focus on the flow of the breath, then it's probable that you are already using an external focus of attention (EFA) in your physiotherapy practice. However, you may not necessarily be aware of the evidenced-benefits of applying an EFA systematically, relative to an internal focus of attention, as your chosen movement control strategy. 

iConference 2020 Enduring Materials - Part 1: Dance for Health

From March through to August we will be sharing select presentations from our 2020 iConference; free and open access here on the IADMS blog and on our eLearning page. Up first we have two presentations from the ‘Dance for Health’ theme. We also asked the presenters some questions regarding their experiences of being involved in our 2020 iConference.

Introducing the 2020 iConference Student Research Award Recipients (Part 2)

This is the second of two blog posts introducing the six recipients of the 2020 iConference Student Research Award. Make sure you check out Part 1 to see the three previously introduced awardees.

Introducing the 2020 iConference Student Research Award Recipients (Part 1)

Across two blog posts we will be introducing the six recipients of the 2020 iConference Student Research Award. Part 1 introduces the first three awardees - make sure to check out Part 2 to see the next three awardees. 

Ballet for All – shifting focus to adapt practice

Authors: Clare Guss-West, MA and Irma Becker, BA

More than any other dance form, ballet presents perhaps the greatest challenges to all aspects of accessibility with its prevailing focus on the physical achievement of the form and on conformity to traditional aesthetics and yet the demand for adapted ballet practice is growing fast. Institutions such as the Royal Academy of Dance and the Joffrey Ballet school’s Adaptive dance program embrace such diversity and inclusivity and in many cases, integrate children with motor challenges into regular class. 

The Language of Eating Disorders: Are you helping or harming? Part 2

Author: Dawn Smith-Theodore

...Most members of the audience do not know about technique, but they want to understand the story a dancer is telling with their body. After all, the body is the instrument of the dancer, which expresses the language of the soul. Being a dancer is something very special so you must feel the passion. Dancers are often tormented by the critical language in their mind...

Meet the 2020 Dance Educators’ Award Nominees, Part 3 of 3

This is the final installment of our three-part blog series introducing the exceptional nominees for the 2020 Dance Educators’ Award (DEA). Each of this year’s nominees contributes a wealth of experience, knowledge and care to dancers across the sector and we have been extremely impressed to read about their work. 

Meet the 2020 Dance Educators’ Award Nominees, Part 2 of 3

In this post, we meet more of the 22 outstanding nominees for the 2020 Dance Educator Award (DEA) and learn a little more about their background and their passion for teaching. 

Meet the 2020 Dance Educators’ Award Nominees, Part 1 of 3

The IADMS Dance Educators' Committee is eager to celebrate nominees for the Dance Educator Award. This year, 22 astounding educators were nominated by their colleagues and students for masterfully integrating principles of Dance Medicine and Science into their teaching practice and inspiring future generations of dance teachers to do the same. This is the first of three blog posts highlighting the nominees.

Information sharing in the digital world

Author: Claire Farmer, MSc, on behalf of the Dance Educators' Committee

Over the past few years, we have seen a steady increase in the use of technology within the arts, as dance artists explore the ways in which digital content can be utilized in the creation, documentation,¹ and sharing of work. The move towards a digital world has been profoundly accelerated due to the coronavirus pandemic and our transfer as dance educators to online learning and communication...