Posted by: IADMS Dance Educators' Committee

Paula Baird-Colt and Jane Paris

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

Our presentation theme for the 2018 IADMS conference is to discuss our experiences in working with elite movers, dancers and athletes. We will discuss our combined insights into different training approaches that can be used to enhance movement learning skills. We hope to encourage practitioners in the field of dance to explore the educational tools that they can employ in both elite sport and dance and the research opportunities this may create.

2. Why is it import to discuss this topic with the IADMS community? What are the implications of this topic to the dance sector/dance health professionals?

Dance health professionals need to have robust discussions about the implications of using and manipulating current and emerging research.
As dance educators we have a responsibility to help shape the questions researchers ask to help bridge any gaps between research and practical solutions at the ground level.
What do dance teachers want to know?

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

Our presentation aims to help dance educators see movement education as a ‘melting pot’ opportunity.
Our experiences as movement educators working in both sports and dance multidisciplinary teams, provide an opportunity to observe the benefits of how contextual learning and educational models can be employed in diverse settings.
By identifying some of the characteristics of elite movers and how they approach movement challenges, we are better able to suggest strategies that could spark the development of different practices within dance training to enhance these skills.
Sometimes the solutions can appear at the practical level, well before there is a high level of evidence to support application. Can we wait? We need as teachers to balance using evidence-based approaches/exercises and still continue to explore new ideas and solutions.

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

To us, as movement educators, the IADMS is relevant because it provides us with a framework for ongoing professional development and discussions around best practice models. Teaching movement requires ongoing practice and refinement, to be abreast of current thinking, theory and applications in teaching methodology.

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

We attend IADMS conferences as we have found them to be an opportunity to connect and engage, but importantly as a wonderful reminder that there is so much more to discover and learn. For us personally, they have become a point of reference in each year, and a way of connecting with colleagues across the world.

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

We look forward at this year’s conference to the chance to work together again for a few days!