Posted by: IADMS Promotion Committee

Jarmo Ahonen

1. Could you tell us about your presentation theme at the 28th IADMS Annual Conference (#IADMS2018)? 

In dance and sports many teachers and coaches are demanding the same performances of all students. However, most people are a little bit different than the next one. Thus they should be trained more individually according their body types and especially according how they vary in bodies. The presentation gives some insight on these differences and how they could be trained safely.

2. Why is it import to discuss this topic with the IADMS community?

IADMS has always been the top community to understand dancers' health and it is important that these scientific findings are brought to dance teachers' awareness.

What are the implications of this topic to the dance sector/dance health professionals?

This topic will shed light to understanding of how precious and still different people are and how they can still achieve great goals despite their differences.

3. How will your presentation help dance educators to apply research with students and participants in the classroom?

Dance educators are the key people to bring research in to practice. And by knowing more about the bodies of dancers teachers will be able to train students better by respecting dancers' bodies and not forcing the bodies over their anatomical limits. The real skill is to train different dancers differently.

4. What are your thoughts on IADMS relevance for your field of work?

IADMS and working with dancers have changed my life as a physical therapy practitioner totally. Before I got the chance to participate IADMS conferences more than twenty years ago I was seeing human movement as a very simple task. Getting to know many great minds and their work in dance medicine field opened my eyes and mind to understand the beauty of human movement and also how it can be trained more carefully.

5. Personally, what is the importance of attending to IADMS annual conferences? 

To meet great friends from many countries. Update my knowledge on dance medicine. Getting new ideas through the workshops.

6. What do you think you are most looking forward to on this year's conference?

The program is so full of gems and important issues that it is truly difficult to pick one or two specials. I'll see how it rolls out and play accordingly from day to day. I always enjoy meeting these wonderful people who practice dance medicine in some form.