As announced in March, until 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. Each month will focus on one of our iConference themes: Dance for Health (March), Dance Medicine (April), Dance Research (May), Interactive/Movement (June), Dance Education (July), and Dance Science (August).

Presentations will only be available for the specified month, so be sure to share them with your colleagues and friends while you can! All presentations from the 2020 iConference remain available for IADMS members via the IADMS app until September 15 2021.

This month we have two presentations from the ‘Dance Education’ theme. We also asked the presenters some questions regarding their experiences of being involved in our 2020 iConference.

Philosophy and implementation of change within traditional dance conservatoire environments

Jessica Wheeler BA, Nico Kolokythas MSc, PhD, Frances Clarke MSc, PhD, Emma Redding PhD

Video no longer available on this platform. IADMS members still have access to all iConference presentations until September 15 2021 via the IADMS app.

1. What was your motivation for being part of the IADMS iConference2020?

The IADMS annual conference is an excellent opportunity to become informed on the research trends and findings but also meet and network with other organizations and individuals. This experience is very difficult to be replaced with an online event, however, it is still important to share ideas and findings. For this reason we felt we wanted to be part of the iConference as our way to support the association but also disseminate ideas and concepts. It felt particularly important in 2020, to offer a group presentation of shared experiences from two dance training institutions as a way of promoting collaborative dialogue to advance together, our knowledge and field.

2. Could you outline the main topic/theme/exploration of your iConference presentation and why this is important for the dance sector/health professionals?

Our panel focused on the promotion of evidence based practice as a process of change and evolution in dance education. We learned that this is a process that presents a lot of opportunities for growth but at the same time a lot of challenges. We hoped to encourage other dance educators and dance leaders to consider trialing new methods of training to enhance practice and performance.

3. What are the key ‘take-home’ messages from your presentation that the dance sector/dance health professionals should be aware of?

Time is of essence but disruption is inevitable and it can only be mitigated with frank communication and collaborative work

4. Could you tell us what you enjoyed the most about iConference2020 as either a presenter or attendee?

Jessica: ‘I really enjoyed the open and honest discussion about how we can keep developing approaches to professional dance training’

Frances: “I found it so stimulating to work with my co-presenters on the panel and to share honestly both the positive effects and the challenges of creating training programmes for young dance artists”.

Nico: “It’s the joy of being part of a community that strives for the evolution of the performing arts.”

Emma: “Of course I so enjoyed working with my co-presenters whom I admire so much and I loved the flexibility an online conference offers. I was able to catch up on presentations I had missed and even watch them twice.”

Understanding the perception, attitudes and beliefs of adolescent recreational dancers towards dance injury and its prevention.

Hiu Tung Yu MSc, MFA & Arnold Wong BPhysio, PhD

Video no longer available on this platform. IADMS members still have access to all iConference presentations until September 15 2021 via the IADMS app.

1. What was your motivation for being part of the IADMS iConference2020?

We would like to promote safe dance practice to the dancers and general public alike.

2. Could you outline the main topic/theme/exploration of your iConference presentation and why this is important for the dance sector/health professionals?

While many studies have found that adolescent dancers are at risk of dance injury, it remains unclear how they see dance injury or dance injury prevention. A better understanding of their attitude and experience towards dance injury and dance injury prevention can facilitate the development of dance injury prevention strategies for this vulnerable group.

3. What are the key ‘take-home’ messages from your presentation that the dance sector/dance health professionals should be aware of?

Multiple factors would affect adolescent dancers in adopting dance injury prevention strategies and dance injury management. Dance instructors play a crucial role in guiding these dancers in handling dance injury and dance injury prevention.

4. Could you tell us what you enjoyed the most about iConference2020 as either a presenter or attendee?

The interactions with the audience, moderators and presenters were priceless.