Healthy Dancing for Every Body

Authors: Rebecca Barnstaple, Lucie Beaudry, Sylvie Fortin

IADMS has recently expanded its mandate to include a focus on Dance for Health (DfH) with the aim to promote and validate dance as a life-long partner for health and well-being for all publics. The development of innovative research related to a variety of healthy dance practices is a key aspect of this initiative. In this brief report, we present core aspects behind the rationale for this new direction of IADMS, followed by a description of a substantial DfH research collaboration in Montreal, Québec, Canada, host city of IADMS 29th Annual Conference.

Helsinki in Retrospect: Movement Session/Partner-Based Bodymind Warm-up

Author: Meredith Lyons on behalf of the Dance Educators’ Committee

In preparation for #IADMS2019 in Montreal I was excited to reflect on a presentation I did with Betsy Miller last year in Helsinki at #IADMS2018. Movement sessions provide an important venue for hands-on application of research and group feedback.

Heels Down During Jumps…Technique or Physics?

Author: Samantha Panos on behalf of the IADMS Dance Educators' Committee

As dancers, we have all been told at one point to put our heels down when we land our jumps. As teachers, we may feel like we are constantly nagging our students to put their heels down. But why is preparing and landing from jumps with heels down important? Is it just good technique or does it play a larger role in performance capacity? 

Identity Matters

Author: Lynda Mainwaring, PhD, CPsych

Who am I? Who am I now that I am injured? Who am I when I am no longer a dancer? Who am I, if I am not recognized in the way in which I perceive myself? Dancers may ask themselves these questions along their career paths. The questions relate to how we perceive ourselves, how we describe ourselves, how we value ourselves, how we perceive our identity, and how we are perceived by others and the way in which that influences us.

The Effect of Age on Spinal Range of Motion - A brief overview of the literature

Author: Janine Bryant on behalf of the IADMS Dance Educators’ Committee

The learning objectives of this article: To share a brief overview of the literature on spinal range of motion and aging, to consider how aging affects dancers but also how dancers, as exercisers, can have a built-in advantage over the aging process, and to focus on the mechanism of aging with regards to collagen and skeletal muscle.

IADMS Infographic Competition - 2019

An infographic can be used to display dance science concepts in an interesting, visual way that makes it easy to quickly understand. Infographics provide an interesting way to share evidence-based information with other members of the dance science community. Infographics can be very useful ways to communicate information. In an effort to promote the more widespread use of these visual displays of data, IADMS has developed an infographic award competition. Submit your infographics to promotion@iadms.org by August 1, 2019! 

Stability of the foot and ankle: the impact of daily habits on dance training

Authors: Nancy Romita and Allegra Romita on behalf of the IADMS Dance Educators' Committee

As you read this, freeze. Hold the position in which you currently find yourself. Do not adjust anything. Without judgment or shifting, notice the position of both feet. Does one foot have more weight on it than the other? Are both feet on the floor? Is there an even weight distribution? Is one foot or ankle a little more turned or rolled in or out? Are you sitting on one foot? Is a leg crossed and how does that affect the shape of foot and ankle?

Regional Meeting Edinburgh 2019 – Control

Author: Leanne Steel on behalf of the IADMS Student Committee

Between 29^th-30^th April, in collaboration with ACPSEM and the University of Edinburgh, IADMS hosted their regional meeting in Scotland which focused on the topic of ‘Control’. The meeting consisted of a full day Saturday exploring topics relating to control in aesthetic sports as well as an optional evening session on Friday about ‘Controlling hypermobility’.

Trait versus Process Correction and Praise

Author: Dr. Kveton-Bohnert on behalf of the IADMS Dance Educators' Committee

Every dance class includes correction. Teachers serve as talking mirrors. Without feedback, dancers cannot develop discernment of detail or learn to self-correct. However, teachers must realize that what they say and how they say it has a marked influence on the dancer’s self-beliefs that manifest as confidence or anxiety. Instructors must be mindful of their phraseology when giving correction and praise.

Aging and range of motion for dancers: An introduction to a three-part series

Author: Janine Bryant on behalf of the IADMS Dance Educators’ Committee

The learning objectives of this article: To broadly understand the aging process and its impact on function and quality of life for dancers, to understand how this information can help dancers age well and therefore affect career longevity, to encourage dancers to create an awareness statement based on this information on how they can help themselves age well as a dancer-athlete, and to help dancers understand how how the very act of dancing puts them at an advantage over the aging process in some ways.