Profession: PhD dance science / contemporary dancer / dance technique teacher

Subjects covered: physical fitness, injuries and applied physiology

Based: London

Contact Details: Work: 02082238839 Mobile: 07789127883; Email: m.angioi@qmul.ac.uk or manu_an@yahoo.it

Biography: Dr Manuela Angioi, MSc and PhD is a Reserach Supervisor at the Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Queen Mary University of London. She has worked with professional and non professional dancers from UK and Europe, investigating the effects of increased physical fitness levels on performance and injury rate and severity. Other research interests include: physical fitness and well being of general population and physical requirements of aesthetics based sports.She has published research findings in many relevant scientific journals, contributing to sports and dance medicine blogs and magazines, as well as presenting at numerous international dance and sports medicine and science conferences.

Profession: Lecturer in Sports Therapy, fully insured Sports Therapist and Dance Scientist

Subjects covered: Injury prevention and treatment, screening and fitness for dance. Also covers detailed anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, postural analysis, performance technique and psychology for both sport and dance.

Based: London

Contact Details: Tel: 07734 858997; Email: joanna.baker@londonmet.ac.uk; Website: www.dice.uk.com.

Biography: Jo is a graduate from the BSc Sports Therapy (University of Hertfordshire) and the MSc in Dance Science (Laban). She combines both interests, in dance and therapy, to provide preventative, immediate and rehabilitative care for dancers. Currently, Jo is a Lecturer in Sports Therapy at London Metropolitan University and also runs the "dance injury clinic and evaluation" (DICE) for treatment and prevention of injuries working with dancers independently. She has previously worked as a Sports Therapist for Old Tottonians rugby club, Enfield FC, RAW Dance Company, CUP promotions and Youth Dance England. Since graduating from the MSc, Jo has lectured at the University of Wolverhampton on their Dance Analysis module, Southgate College on their BTEC in Sport, British Ballet Organisation and The Royal Academy of Dance. Jo is also an active researcher and has worked with The Centre-Performing Arts College to screen their students and provide feedback for the staff and students for the past 2 years.

Profession: Dance Scientist, Lecturer, Performer

Subjects covered: Dance injuries: treatment and prevention, psychological issues in dance, effects of drug use in dance, nutrition and hydration needs of the dancer, getting fit for dance

Based: Exeter, Devon

Contact Details: Tel: 07790519284; Email: avabarron@mac.com; Website: www.dancescientist.co.uk.

Biography: During her training in Classical ballet at the Northern Ballet School, Manchester Ava danced professionally with the Manchester City Ballet and Jazz Galore Companies. Following her graduation she took contracts both in Europe and the UK with Opera International Company, Dolly Dollies and ATA Productions. Ava has completed the Focus Training and Assessment Certificate in Sports Injuries and graduated from Laban, London with an MSc in Dance Science. She continues her career in Dance Science and medicine working on various local projects including seminars at Exeter University. In association with Dance UK's Healthier Dancer Programme, Ava provides advice as their resident Agony Aunt online . Along with her written work, she has compiled a series of freelance lectures providing healthier dancer information to dancers and dancer practitioners as well as private classical ballet tuition in Devon.

Profession: Dance Educator

Subject areas covered: Dance and South Asian Dance in particular. Injury prevention advice, rehab programme, personalised training plan for professional dancers and teachers, advice for performance enhancement.

Based: London

Contact: 07986110573, email: sujata.banerjee@btinternet.com

Biography: Sujata Banerjee is one of the most dynamic and versatile Kathak artists of Britain today. In addition to performing Sujata also teaches, choreographs and devises dance training programmes for injury prevention and performance enhancement.

Sujata is a trained Sports Scientist and teaches at the Centre of Advanced Training at Dance Exchange, Birmingham.
She has delivered various lectures about safe and effective dance training methods. In 1998 she set up the UK’s first residential summer intensive course which was unique and had a healthier dancer focus. This brought major awareness of health and fitness amongst South Asian Dancers. The summer school is now a regular feature of the British dance calendar.

Sujata is a senior Kathak Examiner and the Chairperson of the South Asian Faculty of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). She also holds a CDE (Certificate in Dance Education) and certificate of proficiency in applied Anatomy and Physiology from the ISTD.

Sujata set up her company and school in 1996 and created various innovative programmes in UK and in other parts of the world.

Profession: Performance Psychologist.

Subjects covered: Motivation, anxiety management, managing self-confidence, concentration, imagery, relaxation, injury rehabilitation.

Based: Scotland

Contact Details: Tel: 07932 722 886; Email: mishabotting@hotmail.com.

Biography: Born in Moscow and trained at the Moscow Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Misha was a soloist dancer at the Stanislavski Theatre (Moscow) and then with Scottish Ballet where he danced a wide range of classical and contemporary repertoire. Following completion of his performance career, he obtained a BA and then MSc degree from Edinburgh University in Performance Psychology. His present career is focused on transferring his skills and knowledge to dance and sport. He works with Scottish Institute of Sport and recently obtained a High Performance Sport Accreditation from British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). Even though most of his time is dedicated to elite sport, Misha is actively involved with professional dancers and dance education. He works on consultancy bases with White Lodge - The Royal Ballet School, Scottish Dance Theatre and takes regular training courses for ISTD dance teachers.

Profession: Accredited Sport Dietician

Subjects covered: Nutrition-Diet

Based: Reading, Berkshire

Contact Details: Tel: 07973 269825; Email: jchallis@k-close.freeserve.co.uk.

Biography: Jasmine is an Accredited Nutritionist and Accredited Sport Dietitian with a particular interest in dance. She has worked with dance students and professionals for more than 15 years. She has given group talks and individual advice to professional dance schools and companies. Jasmine has been involved in Dance UK Roadshows giving talks/workshops on 'Nutrition and Dance Performance' and on 'Eating Disorders' and runs courses on these topics for dance teachers. She was nutrition consultant for the Dance UK Information Sheet on Food and Nutrition for Dancers. Away from dance she continues working with patients & clients both with disordered eating and other medical problems. Jasmine has also worked both with coaches and atheletes, and has advised at national level training camps.

Profession: Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham

Subjects covered: All areas of performance psychology; including mental skill training, performance issues (e.g., handling pressure), psychology of injury risk and rehabilitation, talent development, motivation and well-being

Based: West Midlands

Contact Details: Tel: 0121 414 2877; Email: J.Cumming@Bham.ac.uk.

Biography: Originally from Montréal, Canada, Jennifer is a senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham. As a competitive ice skater, she was first exposed to sport psychology training and developed an appreciation for the mental side of her sport. After further studies and gathering more than ten years of professional coaching experience, Jennifer now lectures on performance psychology to undergraduate students and supervises PhD research students. As a chartered sport and exercise psychologist, Jennifer works with athletes and dancers, offering one-to-one consultations and workshops on a range of topics. She has also developed, and regularly teaches, a course on the psychological aspects of talent development for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), and has guest lectured at the Move It Show and the Performers College. She has given seminars at Move It 2008 and 2007’s “Cognition to Conditioning, A One-day Research Forum on Dance Science”, helped to organise and host the 2009 Symposium on the Psychology of Dance, and her research regularly appears in both dance science and sport psychology journals.

Profession: Dance fitness consultant/trainer, Project Manager, Quality Assurance Officer

Subjects covered: Dance health and fitness, relaxation and postural alignment, general health and fitness, dance project/general management.

Based: London

Contact Details: Tel: 07961003425; Email: becdalby@hotmail.co.uk; Website: http://www.rebeccadalby.co.uk/

Biography: Sparked by her dance training, Rebecca began her fitness and health career over 10 years ago where she trained as a personal trainer and freelance class instructor. Whilst completing her BA in Dance and Sport at Manchester Metropolitan University, she began to combine these two passions (dance and fitness) in her research and work.
After graduating Rebecca continued to work in the fitness industry and progressed into managerial positions whilst completing an MSc in Dance Science at Laban, London. Her research was mainly based on the physiological aspects of dance such as strength conditioning, energy expenditure and monitoring of physical responses to dance. However, over the last couple of years her interest has expanded to the somatic fields of dance research and complimentary techniques. Rebecca has presented work in many different arenas (including IADMS) and has written various reviews and articles for dance magazines and websites including her own (http://www.rebeccadalby.co.uk/)!
Rebecca primarily works for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and Levantes Dance Theatre, whilst teaching classes and training various clients, dancers and dance schools.

Profession: Researcher/Lecturer/Practitioner

Subjects covered: Kinaesthesia; Proprioception; Perception & Action; Motor Control & Learning (such as nervous system, memory, attention); Cognitive Science & Dance (such as self-recognition, ‘mirror neurons’, empathy); Interdisciplinary Research

Based: London

Contact Details: Tel: 07906 387 912; Email: shantelehrenberg@yahoo.com

Biography: Shantel is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Manchester with Professor Dee Reynolds. Her PhD research primarily focuses on dancer experience, more specifically dancers’ experiences related to kinaesthesia and visual self-image (see also http://www.llc.manchester.ac.uk/subjects/french/pg-research/Current-phd/shantel_ehrenberg/). Shantel received her MFA at the University of California, Irvine, USA where she performed, presented her choreography, and completed a research project exploring dancers’ experiences training with and without mirrors. She received her MSc in Dance Science at Laban and focused her thesis research on ballet dancer self-recognition, working with Professor Patrick Haggard and Dr. Beatriz Calvo-Merino at UCL’s ICN. Shantel has conducted research and held lecture posts at UK institutions such as Trinity Laban and Bird College.

Profession: Educational Exercise Consultant

Subjects covered: Safe exercise practice for dancers and/or dance teachers - particularly for those working with children and/or young people

Based: Between Swindon and Oxford

Contact Details: Tel: 07970 681549 Email:  jillelbourn2000@yahoo.co.uk

Biography: Jill works as a freelance education consultant. She has co-authored many publications focusing on the teaching of Health Related Exercise in schools and regularly leads training for school teachers all over the British Isles. Jill is a popular guest lecturer for Dance UK's Healthier Dancer Programme and leads interactive and lively workshops focusing on safe exercise practice, particularly for those working with children and young people. These workshops aims to support dance teachers, performers and choreographers to make informed decisions about safe exercise practice using a simple and accessible cost-benefit analysis. Jill has worked with many Dance organisations and companies over the past 20 years, including the Northern School of Contemporary Dance, the British Ballet Organisation, the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, the Royal Ballet Company and Birmingham Royal Ballet. Jill is currently a part-time lecturer at the following Universities: Loughborough, Brunel, Reading and Birmingham and the director of her own web-based company, Learning about Healthy Active Lifestyles Ltd. Jill is also YMCA Fitness Industry Training’s consultant for children's exercise.

Profession: Dance scientist, lecturer, teacher

Subjects covered: Introduction to dance science: anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, somatics, research methods, lectures in anatomy and physiology, fit and healthy dancer workshops and screening programmes.

Based: South West

Contact Details: Tel: 07710 258 007; Email: bridgetskydancer@hotmail.co.uk

Biography: Bridget began her career as a professional dancer after which she ran her own dance schools teaching ballet, contemporary, jazz and tap. She then went on to graduate from Laban with an MSc in Dance Science and now lectures in dance science, anatomy and physiology and holds Fit and Healthy Dancer workshops and screening programmes in the South West. She presented her research at the 2008 International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) conference in Cleveland, Ohio.

Profession: Dance Lecturer, Senior Yoga Teacher, Dance Health Specialist

Subjects covered: Yoga for Dancers, research into student dancers health and wellbeing, training yoga teachers as dance/yoga specialists, social dance (Argentine Tango) and health.

Based: Norwich, Norfolk, London

Contact Details: Tel: 07941 922 575; Email: abbyhoffmann@gmail.com; www.abbyhoffmannyoga.com

Biography: Originally from a dance background, Abby gained a BA in Dance Studies from Middlesex University in 1995 and then worked as a professional dancer/teacher and choreographer before becoming more involved with yoga in the late ‘90s. She is a senior yoga teacher registered with the Yoga Alliance UK and is the Director of Embodied Dancer, a unique, dance-specific yoga teacher training programme which has been informed by her PhD research at Middlesex University. Abby is a freelance lecturer in dance and currently a student on the MSc in Dance Science at Trinity Laban. Her research interests are in the part yoga and other somatic practices can play in enhancing the well-being, fitness and health of dancers.

Profession: Choreographer, dancer, yoga teacher, dance kinesiology and contemporary dance course leader.

Subjects covered: Injury prevention and safe dance practice. Conditioning for dance through yoga.

Based: Luxembourg

Contact Details: Tel: (+352) 621 176 263; Email: info@dancescience.net Web: www.dancescience.net

Biography: With a background in Dance (BA, Milan), Chemistry (BSc, Queen Mary, London), Yoga (YIC, Bangalore) and Bodywork (Diploma, London) studies, Emanuela Iacopini gained an MSc in Dance Science from Laban (London) and was selected to present her student research at the 14th Annual Meeting of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) in San Francisco (2004) and at Viljiandi Kultuurakademia in Estonia (2007). She is course leader in contemporary dance at the Conservatoire of Luxembourg city where after introducing the subject area in 2005, she is now lecturer in dance science (Kinésiologie de la danse). As a choreographer and dancer she creates and performs works for her company, VEDANZA. She is a member of the IADMS Media committee and she represents Luxembourg on it's International Liaison Network. She is founder of the Dance Science Net agency for information and education in dance science in Europe and in 2011 she organized the 1st Dance Medicine and Science Conference in Luxembourg.

Profession: Choreographer and Scientist in Dance and Cognitive Neuroscience

Subjects covered: Interdisciplinary research projects (Choreography and Cognitive Neuroscience). Main topics are audiences response to watching dance; Embodiment and experience; Visual, tactile, and proprioceptive body perception in dancers and audiences; Visual and kinaesthetic imagery; Effects of imagery and intention on motor learning and execution; Motor control; Movement transformation; Effects of media on movement quality (e.g. video, notation); Effects of dancers' expertise on perception and cognition; History of dance; The dancer's foot (massage and training for foot alignment, Hallux Valgus deformation;

Based: London / Glasgow

Contact Details: Tel: (01483) 689432; Email: c.jola@surrey.ac.uk

Biography: Corinne Jola, trained in choreogaphy (MA Laban Trinity College), cognitive neuroscience (PhD, MA) and dance (postgrad. Dance Culture, Labanotation, and IWANSON) is active in both fields, basic scientific research and dance. Her main emphasis is to enhance the interdisciplinary understanding between these areas by the use of scientific knowledge and methods to design new choreographic concepts as well as to spin of scientific investigations from conceptual dance works and embodied practice. Main aspects of her research are effects of imagery in motor learning and control, multisensory body and movement representation as well as spatial perception and orientation. In her choreographic studies, her particular method of creation increases the dancers and audiences' self awareness.

Profession: Bowen Therapist, Dancer, Dance Scientist, Dance Researcher, Dance Lecturer

Subjects covered: Injury prevention, psychology of injury and recovery, Safe Dance Practice and the organisation of training (Periodization)
Isobel is particularly interested in Hypermobility and would be interested in working with individual dancers especially ballet dancers, on a consultancy basis.

Based: London

Contact Details: Tel: 07947 475082; Email: IKnight@laban.org

Biography: Isobel started her career with a BA (Hons) in Primary Education before working at the ISTD for two years as an Examinations Officer and then at the Council for Dance Education and Training (CDET) as an administrator. Having always had an interest in the body and medicine, Isobel trained to practice the Australian soft-tissue therapy Bowen Technique (www.bowenworks.org) Having heard about Laban’s outstanding reputation in Dance Science, Isobel decided to combine her interests of dance and medicine and has just passed her MSc. Isobel’s MSc thesis was on joint hypermobility, and Isobel is a member of the London Hypermobility Club. Isobel is also a member of Dance UK and IADMS.

Profession: Dancer, Dance Lecturer, Dance Science Researcher, Pilates Instructor

Subjects covered: Interdisciplinary research: physiology; psychology; biomechanics; somatics. Safe dance practice, injury prevention, health and fitness.

Based: London

Contact Details: Tel: 077 6525 6213; Email: Ashley.McGill@roehampton.ac.uk

Biography: Ashley is currently a lecturer in dance at Roehampton University where she teaches dance science theory and ballet modules. She began dancing at an early age and trained in the RAD syllabus before going to the University of Calgary for her BA (Hons) degree in dance with a major in ballet. She has danced with the School of Alberta Ballet and the Ontario ballet company in Canada before coming to London, England to study her Masters degree in Dance Science. Ashley is also a certified Pilates instructor and teaches Pilates for her students at Roehampton as well as other fitness centres in the city. She has presented her research at 2 annual conferences held by the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science and has also presented her work at the Dance Medicine and Science conference in Tartu, Estonia. Ashley is currently working with Dr. Sara Houston and the English National Ballet on a research project that is investigating the effects of dance for people with Parkinson’s.

Profession: Osteopath

Subjects covered: Dance injury prevention and management for dancers/ teachers, dance-related anatomy, technique adaptation for the multi-disciplinary dancer/ musical theatre performer, dance injury management for medical professionals and theatre managers.

Based: Hertfordshire/ London

Contact Details: Tel: 07771993565; Email: jennie@jenniemorton.co.uk

Biography: Jennie began her career as a Classical Ballet dancer before moving into Musical Theatre, performing for over 15 years. She then trained as a Sports Injury Therapist before becoming an Osteopath and has been working as a dance and performing arts specialist since 1999. She runs a weekly clinic at the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine in London where her patients include dancers from the Royal Ballet Company and West End Theatres as well as actors and musicians. She is also a qualified dance teacher. Jennie lectures for various organisations on the prevention and management of dance injuries & is currently involved in the development of a new MSc in Performing Arts Medicine.

Profession: Lecturer, Royal Academy of Dance/Dance Teacher/Dance Scientist

Contact Details: 07746320784; chloe_naalchigar@hotmail.com

Based: Marlow, Buckinghamshire

Subjects covered: Introduction to dance science, dancer health and fitness, safe dance practice.

Biography: Chloë is a lecturer at the Royal Academy of Dance and teaches dance science and health across the Faculty of Education’s taught and distance learning programmes. Chloë gained a first class BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry with Science Communication from Royal Holloway, University of London and subsequently completed the Certificate of Higher Education: Dance Teaching at the Royal Academy of Dance, gaining Registered Teacher Status.

Chloë has recently completed an MSc in Dance Science at the University of Wolverhampton and is involved in a number of ongoing research projects with both student and professional dancers. She is a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) and has presented at the IADMS annual conference for the past two years.

Profession: Dancer/ Teacher/ Lecturer/ Choreographer

Subjects covered:Dance Psychology: Managing Confidence and Self-esteem as dancers, Performance Anxiety, Healing Dance Workshop

Based: Midlands

Contact Details: Tel: 07931 776751

Biography: Toby trained at The Royal Ballet School for 8 years and graduated into Birmingham Royal Ballet (BRB) where he danced as a soloist, taught and choreographed for 12 years. During this time he continued to explore other cultural dance and movement forms and went onto graduate from Birmingham University with an MA which focused on dance crossing cultural boundaries. He left BRB to join Arts Council England as a Dance Officer and then went on to teach and lecture at Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry Universities covering modules on performance, technique, community dance, health and CPD. Additionally, he gave workshops and talks for BRB and Birmingham Rep Theatre's education departments. He then went to South Africa delivering dance programs to disadvantaged children in Cape Town's townships. On returning he worked with The Royal Ballet School's Partnership and Access Programme and gave talks on self-esteem and managing performance anxiety whilst completing a specialist dance fellowship with The Clore Leadership Programme. Toby is currently working at Birmingham DanceXchange as the West Midlands Strategy Manager for Youth Dance England. As part of this work, Toby is working in partnership with The Physical Activity Network West Midlands and The Department of Health to deliver Dance Active, a training course aimed at dance artists and commissioning health professionals. The course runs annually and is geared towards identifying the current priorities of the health sector, enabling dance artists and health professionals to better understand how to deliver projects in partnership and providing opportunities for networking and brokering dance & health projects towards the end of the course.

Profession: Dance Teacher, Gyrotonic instructor & pretrainer, Gyrokinesis master teacher

Subjects Covered: Dance teacher: beginners/advanced/professional level. Gyrotonic & Gyrokinesis instructor + teacher trainer available.

Contact Details: Tel: 07931 552849; Email: beatrizpascual@gyrotonic.co.uk

Biography: With more than 20 years experience, Beatriz Pascual has had ample exposure to the physical stresses of a demanding life-style. She has danced in Spain, Belgium, South Africa, the UK, Japan, France and the USA. It was during a dance project in New York that she first came into contact with Gyrotonic through its instructor, Juliu Horvath. Beatriz is a Gyrotonic Pretrainer and a Gyrokinesis Master teacher. For more information please visit www.gyrotonic.co.uk.

Profession: Physiotherapist

Subjects covered: Anatomy, injury prevention & management etc.

Based: London / Oxfordshire

Contact Details: Tel: 01442 821680; Email: kimpedrick@msn.com

Biography: Kim Pedrick worked as a professional dancer before retraining as a physiotherapist. Following her degree she has specialised in sports medicine and undertaken a Masters degree in sports physiotherapy. She currently leads the dance medicine team at The Arts Educational School in Tring where she places strong emphasis on injury prevention as well as management and rehabilitation. Kim also lectures internationally and is part of the physiotherapy advisory group for Dance UK.

Profession­­­­­­­­­­­: Dance Scientist, Dance Teacher/Choreographer, Freelance Lecturer   

Subjects covered: Nutrition & Hydration for Optimal Performance, Theory and Practice of Dance Fitness, Performance Psychology, Anatomy & Physiology, Safe Practice in Dance and Injury Prevention. Particular interest in the Physical Demands of Pointe Work and Safe Training for Pre-Pointe Dancers.          

Contact:  07791484378, amypollard29@hotmail.com  

Based: Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire

Biography: I began dancing at young age, with a background in competitive freestyle. I have a BA (Hons) Degree in Creative Expressive Therapies specialising in Dance from The University of Derby, which has enabled me to explore the therapeutic qualities of dance and movement. I have recently completed the MSc Dance Science at The University of Wolverhampton. I am also an Associate Teacher with the IDTA and I currently work as a community dance teacher/choreographer using my knowledge of safe practice within my classes, and as a Guest Lecturer in Dance Science at Expressions Academy of Performing Arts and The University of Derby.  

I have a specialist interest in working with pre-pointe dancers and their teachers in providing safe and effective training in order to cope with the physical demands pointe work places on the body. I am also a qualified pointe shoe fitter with Grishko UK. 

Profession: Dancer, Dance Teacher, Dance Researcher

Subjects covered: Dance Science, Safe Dance Practice and Injury Prevention, Anatomy for Dancers, Fitness for Dance, Irish Dance Specialist

Based: London

Contact Details: Tel: 0208 469 9483; Email: e.quin@laban.org

Biography: Edel started her dance carreer with 'Riverdance', performing internationally as both lead dancer and troupe member. Other professional experiences include H20: Henri Oguike's Apprentice Dance Company and the West End production of 'The Shoughraun'. She has completed a BA (Hons) Degree in Dance at University College Chichester and an MSc in Dance Science at Laban. Currently Edel is working as a lecturer and researcher with the Laban Dance Science and Health Team where she is actively involved in Laban's ongoing interdisciplinary screening programme for students and professional dancers. Most recently Edel has been primary researcher on a project assessing the physiological and psychological effects of dance on school children. She has presented her research internationally at conferences such as at the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) and Tanz Medicine Symposium (TaMed).

Profession: Director of Dance

Subjects covered: Adolescent Growth Spurt, Good Teaching Practice, Giving Dancers Feedback, 'Hands on' policies, Safe Dance Practice.

Based: Beds/Bucks/Herts

Contact Details: Tel: 01442 821665; Email: rachelrist1@aol.com

Biography: Director of Dance at Arts Educational School, Tring Park, and past President of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. Author of 2 books; The Injured Dancer, and Anatomy and Kinesiology for Ballet Teachers and many articles for Dance Journals. Lectures internationally on Dance Training and Education and hosts many Dance Conferences. Editorial Board for 'Fit to Dance 1 and 2' and 'Dance Teaching Essentials' and has worked with Dance UK as an advisor for many years. On the Executive Committee and Chair of the Faculty of Education for the Royal Academy of Dance.

Profession: Sport and Exercise Psychologist

Subjects covered: Performance issues, lifestyle issues, body image/eating issues, goal setting, anxiety management, controlling negative thoughts, working with children.

Based: Coventry

Contact Details: Tel: 02476 888226; Email: kate.russell@coventry.ac.uk

Biography: Kate is a senior lecturer in psychology at Coventry University. As part of this work she delivers lectures on sport, exercise, and health psychology. She is also an accredited Sport and Exercise Psychologist with BASES (British Association for Sport and Exercise Sciences) and a Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society. She has experience of working with a variety of clients from individual sport performers, to groups of Academy players and dancers. Her main areas of interest revolve around the development of body image and identity through sport participation, although she focuses primarily on performance aspects with her clients

Profession: Lecturer in Dance Biomechanics, Anatomy, and Science of Training/Motor Learning, Contemporary Dancer and Teacher, Human Movement Scientist, Dance Researcher, Teacher in Physical Education

Subjects covered: Biomechanics in dance, Anatomy and Kinesiology in Dance, Workshop on Coordination Skills for Dancers (both practical and theoretical), Teaching of Dance, Dance Health and Fitness for Dancers (both practical and theoretical), Teaching of Contemporary Dance Classes including all body conditioning components and knowledge of Human Movement Science, Injury prevention

Based: Switzerland

Contact Details: Tel: 07878 914779; Email: a.schaerli@laban.org or a.schaerli@swissonline.ch

Biography: Andrea Schaerli is currently a lecturer in biomechanics at Laban in London and a regular guest lecturer in motor learning and science of training for the dance education programme at the Amsterdam School of the Arts, The Netherlands. She completed a degree in physical education as well as a master's degree in Human Movement Science from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland. Furthermore she got a BA in dance from the Rotterdam Dance Academy, The Netherlands. She has teaching experience in Fitness for dancers, Anatomy and Kinesiology for Bachelor as well as Master degree Dance programmes. Furthermore, she has been teaching both Contemporary Dance and Ballet for beginners and advanced children and adults respectively. She has been teaching in UK, Switzerland, The Netherlands and USA. Since 2007 Andrea has been a member of Helander Dance Theatre in Boulder, Colorado, USA.

Profession: Researcher/Lecturer/Practitioner

Subjects covered: Injury prevention and safe dance practice, nutrition for dancers, anatomy and physiology, fitness training for dancers, psychological issues in dance.

Based: Edinburgh

Contact Details: Tel: 07889930741 email: clare_stephen@hotmail.com

Biography: Clare Stephen is a freelance lecturer and dance science consultant. Clare worked as a dance performer and educator before going on to undertake postgraduate study in dance science. She was awarded MSc with Distinction from the University of Wolverhampton and is going on to PhD study. Her main research focus lies in dance physiology with specific interests in vitamin D, endocrinology and muscle function. She is a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS). Out with lecturing and consultancy, Clare continues work as a practitioner, working extensively as a physical theatre tutor and choreographer with an interest in interdisciplinary work.

Profession: Lecturer in Dance, Fitness/Physical Activity Instructor, Dance Practitioner, Course Provider for the Certficate in Safe and Effective Dance Practice

Subjects covered: Nutrition for dancers, health and fitness training for dancers, anatomy, overtraining/burnout, injury prevention and safe practice, contemporary dance.

Based: Leicestershire

Contact Details: Tel: 0116 2244100 ext: 4246; Email: charlotte.tomlinson@hotmail.com; Website: www.fit4dance.com

Biography: Charlotte trained at a stage school in Leicester before undertaking her BA (Hons) Degree in Dance studies at Roehampton University, during which she performed in and choreographed shows at The Theatre Royal and The London Palladium. She then went on to Laban where she completed an MSc in Dance Science. Since then Charlotte has been lecturing in dance at various colleges and institutions but is now primarily based as a Course Team Leader at Leicester College teaching in both further and higher education. As well as this Charlotte teaches health, fitness, dance and nutrition to both dancers and groups in the community.

Profession: PhD candidate, Dance Science Researcher, Lecturer in Dance

Subjects covered: Interdisciplinary research: physiology; psychology; biomechanics. Safe practice, injury, health and fitness.

Based: London

Contact Details: Tel: 07746 221 943; Email: i.walker@trinitylaban.ac.uk

Biography: Imogen trained in Cecchetti ballet before going on to study for her BA (Hons) degree in Dance at Roehampton University. Following this, Imogen undertook the MSc Dance Science at the Laban Centre and spent two years lecturing in dance technique and dance science at a number of institutions, as well as conducting original research. Imogen is now a PhD candidate at Laban as part of the Dance Talent Development in Young People project, an interdisciplinary dance science study working with the Centres for Advanced Training around the country. Her particular area of interest is the potential role that passion and physical fitness might play in adherence and dropout from high-quality dance training programmes. Imogen has presented her work at international conferences and writes dance science/health articles regularly for dance magazines.

Profession: Dance scientist, Graduate Sport Rehabilitator, Dance teacher / lecturer

Subjects covered: Fitness for dance, injury treatment and prevention, anatomy and physiology, applied exercise physiology, basic sports/dance psychology.

Based: West Midlands

Contact Details: Tel: 07779 589569; Email: emilytwitchett@gmail.com

Biography: Emily began dancing at an early age before attending London Contemporary Dance School on a full scholarship. She then attended Middlesex University to study Sport Rehabilitation and Injury Prevention. During this time Emily had work placements at the Varney Physiotherapy Practice, Enfield, The Arts Educational School, Tring and the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, New York, USA. She graduated with first class honours, as a ‘graduate sports rehabilitator’ before embarking on a PhD in Dance Science at the University of Wolverhampton, UK. As part of her PhD, Emily has worked with the Birmingham Royal Ballet company, English National Ballet company, and Central School of Ballet, investigating the effects of various fitness parameters (eg flexibility, aerobic fitness, anaerobic power and strength) on dance performance. She is a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, and has presented work at their conferences and has had research published in dance and scientific journals. Emily is also an associate of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing and holds the Royal Academy of Dance teaching certificate.

Profession: Dance Scientist, Lecturer and Researcher

Subjects covered: Dance Science: psychology, physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, dance fitness, experiential anatomy and safe dance practice. Particular interest in positive psychology and flow theory in application to dance.

Based: Suffolk, UK

Contact Details: Tel: 07711 275537; Email: elsab@btopenworld.com.

Biography: Elsa Urmston is a freelance dance science researcher and lecturer. She was awarded a BA (Hons) Dance in Society from University of Surrey and an MSc in Dance Science from Laban, London. Her main area of research focuses on the application of positive psychology, flow theory and optimal experience in dance. Elsa has presented her research at various conferences including Foundations for Excellence and IADMS. Previous appointments have included Head of dance at University Campus Suffolk, Lecturer in dance at University of Bedfordshire and Bodywork Dance Company, Cambridge, as well as freelance research with English National Ballet, Youth Dance England, Film and Video Umbrella, Akademi and Edge Hill University.

Profession: Professor in Dance Science; exercise physiologist to BRB and ENB

Subjects covered: Health, injury prevention and the dance profession, fitness and dance, periodisation for schools and companies, nutrition for dancers and performance, motor learning in dance, teaching fundamentals for dancers, teachers and choreographers.

Based: West Midlands

Contact Details: Work: 01902-323144 Mobile: 07972136145 Email: m.wyon@wlv.ac.uk

Biography: Matthew Wyon is a Professor in Dance Science at the University of Wolverhampton, UK where he works in both the Sport and Dance Departments. At the University he is the course leader for the MSc in Dance Science and Director of Studies for a number of dance science and medicine doctoral students. He was recently appointed an associate professor for Artez Danceacademy in Arnhem. He is the chair of the IADMS Research Committee and sits on the Medical Advisory Committee of Dance UK and the IADMS Board. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (NSCA) and is the exercise physiologist for the Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Ballet. He has worked with numerous dancers and companies within the UK as an applied physiologist and fitness trainer.

Profession: PhD candidate, Dance Science Lecturer, teacher and contemporary dancer. Project Management in the Arts.

Subjects covered: Introduction to Dance Science covering Physiology, Nutrition, Biomechanics, Somatics, Dance Psychology and Research Methods. Safe Dance Practice.

Based: Manchester

Contact Details: Tel: 07815 851087; Email: karenwood30@btopenworld.com

Biography: Karen is currently a PhD student of the Watching Dance Project at the University of Manchester supervised by Professor Dee Reynolds. She obtained her MSc in Dance Science at Trinity Laban, London in 2006. She is interested in how dancers acquire kinesthetic sensibilities, which ties in with her PhD project investigating the experience of kinesthetic empathy.

Karen has taught dance over the last 15 years in the community and in education, is currently a teacher on The Lowry’s Centre for Advanced Training Programme (CAT) teaching 12-18 year olds and leads the Manchester Tap Rhythm Project, which is part of a nationally co-ordinated project. Karen has taught on the Safe and Effective Dance Practice Certificate and the Diploma in Dance Teaching and Learning (For Children and Young People) developed by Trinity College, Trinity Laban and International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS). She is an active member of IADMS and has presented at the 2008 IADMS conference in Ohio . Karen assesses trainee teachers for the Royal Academy of Dance, has lectured at Roehampton University , and is a visiting lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University , Edge Hill University , Trinity Laban and the Royal Academy of Dance in London . She works as a freelance dance educator and dance science consultant based in Manchester .