Author: Nicola Stephens

It’s nearly time for IADMS 2018 and I am getting excited. I’ve got tape packed for the shin-pain workshop I am presenting with my fantastic colleague Amanda, who is just starting out on her dance medicine career. Encouraging her to come along and co-present got me reflecting upon my years of being an IADMS member. Helsinki is the 8th IADMS I have attended, and this year both my husband and daughter will be coming with me. We are planning a sightseeing break around the conference, so any tips on must see sights, especially with an 8-year-old in tow would be welcome. The two of them intend to hunt for Moomins whilst I work.

My first IADMS was 19 years ago when I, like Amanda, was just embarking on a career in dance medicine. At this first conference I met many people passionate about the need to enable the healthier dancer and remember feeling excited to be able to hear all these amazing speakers, and humbled to talk to them afterwards. I received so much encouragement which helped me forward my career and I came away from Tring (IADMS 1999) having found my tribe! Oh, and my future husband…

Hence, IADMS is a special place for us as Leon and I did meet at our first IADMS. We bonded over frisbee on the lawn (ooops…sorry, yes, those footprints in the dew were ours!) and water fights at midnight in the corridors of the boarding school with other (now) quite prominent IADMS members. The infamous party night that year only had the DJ booked until 10pm. But a little whip around by my (now) husband enabled it to be extended it until late and a tradition was born. IADMS 2003 (Laban) formed part of our honeymoon, and our IADMS baby attended her first conference in 2010 (Birmingham).

I’ve had the pleasure & privilege to present at 3 previous IADMS conferences and will be presenting again twice this year. It is through organisations such as IADMS that I have been able to network and make the connections that have made collaborations on research and best practice possible. I am so grateful for these opportunities and would say to any new IADMS members that the networking opportunities are as valuable, if not more so, that the actual conference content itself. Through IADMS I have made friends in all corners of the world, colleagues who I can call upon their expertise when needed and who in turn occasionally pick my brain too. And now with the app, it’s even easier to “speak” to someone, so even for the shy, or people who have a language barrier – the networking is made so much more accessible. You may even win a free conference place for next year by using the app like I did in Hong Kong! Who knows, it may even be the place to meet your future partner…?!!!

Anyhow, back to the packing. Our suitcase has to fit in 27 cuddly toys, warm clothes for 3 and make sure there’s space on the return journey for a Moomintroll or otherwise! Moominmama, it appears, I am not. Well, not today!