Safe Dance Practice: An applied dance science perspective

608 Pages·2015·5.64 MB·English

by  Edel Quin

Safe Dance Practice
Edel Quin, MSc, FHEA
Sonia Rafferty, MSc, FHEA
Charlotte Tomlinson, MSc, PGCE
Human Kinetics
This book is dedicated to our friends and families, especially Dan, Kevin, Luke,
Phil and Zélie, for their invaluable and constant support.
Contents Foreword
Preface
Introduction
What Is Safe Dance Practice?
Benefits of Safe Dance Practice
Implementing Safe Dance Practice
Chapter 1: The Dance Environment
Preparing for Dance Activity
Maintaining Proper Facilities
Ensuring Moral Safety
Considering Liability and Insurance
Assessing Risks
Reporting and Documenting Accidents
Summary
Chapter 2: Alignment
Anatomical and Kinesiological Terminology
Skeletal and Muscular Relationships
Dynamic Dance Alignment
Summary
Chapter 3: Warming Up and Cooling Down
Principles and Components of Warming Up
Principles and Components of Cooling Down
Considerations for Various Dance Scenarios
Common Questions
Summary
Chapter 4: Training Principles and Supplementary Fitness
Components of Physical Fitness for Dancers
Training Principles
Incorporating Fitness Into Dancers’ Schedules
Summary
Chapter 5: Rest and Recovery
Components of Rest and Recovery
Overtraining and Burnout
Incorporating Rest into Dancers’ Schedules
Summary
Chapter 6: Sequencing and Progression
Factors That Influence Session Content, Structure and Delivery
Differentiating Among Learning, Training and Practice
Using Training Principles to Construct a Dance Session
Structure and Content of Individual Dance Sessions
Observing and Offering Constructive Feedback
Contraindicated Movements and Actions
Summary
Chapter 7: Nutrition and Hydration
Nutrition for Dancers
Hydration for Dancers
Effective Fuelling for Dance-Specific Activity
Disordered Eating in the Dance Community
Giving Nutrition Advice to Dance Participants
Summary
Chapter 8: Psychological Well-Being
Creating an Effective Psychological Environment
Meeting Basic Psychological Needs
Approaches to Feedback
Psychological Tools and Strategies
Summary
Chapter 9: Injury Awareness and Management
Dance Injury Patterns
Injury Types, Causes and Risk Factors
Effective Injury Management
Returning Safely to Dance Post Injury
Injury Documentation
Summary
Chapter 10: Adaptations for Specific Populations
Children and Young People in Dance
Older Dancers
Dancers With Disabilities
Pregnant Dancers
Dancers With Asthma
Dancers With Diabetes
Dancers With Dyslexia or Dyspraxia
Summary
Chapter 11: Evaluating and Appreciating Safe Dance Practice
Reasons to Evaluate Regularly
What and When to Evaluate
How to Evaluate
Continuing Professional Development and Education
Summary
Sources for Additional Information
GLOSSARY
References
About the Authors
Foreword The field of dance science
is reaching maturity and this book
provides evidence of that progress.
Over the last few decades, we have
seen an exponential growth in the
body of scientific research concerning
the physiological, biomechanical and
psychological considerations of dance
practice. Yet the prevalence of dance
injuries is still high and some suggest
that this is because the research is yet
to be translated and made available
for all those who work with dancers
on a daily basis.
While it is often remarked that research is not complete until it is published, I
would go further and say, research has little value unless it is applied,
understood, and has impact. At last, research findings have been transformed
into this practical and informative resource. The first book of its kind, Safe
Dance Practice combines scientific evidence with practitioner wisdom. It will
have broad appeal, connecting with all those interested in becoming better
informed about both safe dance practice and performance enhancement.
Presented in an accessible and user-friendly format, useful recommendations
from a dance science perspective can be readily applied by a wide range of
dance practitioners in their classes, rehearsals, schedules and performances. The
principles advocated in this book have direct relevance for leaders working with
professional or recreational dancers, teachers of all genres and levels of
experience, and students and lecturers within undergraduate and postgraduate
courses. The focus on the interrelated components of safe practice will help to
promote health and well-being for any dancer, minimizing injury and
encouraging optimal performance and engagement.
The authors are highly regarded within the world of dance and the field of dance
science. They are trained dancers with professional performing and
choreographing experience and continue to teach on a daily basis. While all
three writers hold postgraduate degrees in dance science and have presented and
published numerous academic papers in journals and at various international
forums, their primary focus remains the quality of their teaching. They share a
deep desire to promote dance-science-informed teaching practices and to
disseminate their knowledge and expertise in safe practice. Having created
several new undergraduate and postgraduate modules, as well as international
certificates and qualifications in safe dance practice, the authors continue to
serve as assessors and consultants with various examining bodies. They maintain
a strong relationship with both the National Institute of Dance Medicine and
Science (NIDMS) and the International Association for Dance Medicine and
Science (IADMS) and serve on various committees advising on matters that
concern teachers all over the world.
There are many anecdotal accounts of how best to teach dance and it has been
commented that dance teaching relies upon tradition and personal experience
rather than scientific understanding. Yet I often hear teachers say that change is
long overdue. This book has the potential to significantly influence dance
practice worldwide both now and in years to come. Mahatma Gandhi once said,
‘be the change you want to see in the world’. This is a book that could help you
make that change.
Dr. Emma Redding Head of Dance Science, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of
Music and Dance Past-President, International Association for Dance Medicine
and Science
Preface
Safe dance practice has become a prominent issue in recent years. With more
people interested in taking part in dance activities, not just as a possible career,
but as a recreational or fitness activity, the requirement for greater understanding
of the effects of physical activity on every body is being highlighted. In addition,
the evolution of dance science as an area of research and study is encouraging
ongoing investigation and application of effective and research-informed dance
practice. Dance leaders also seem to be striving to enhance the overall health and
well-being of dance participants at every level, through an examination of
teaching, training, and performance practices. As a result, there is increased
recognition that knowledge of how to safeguard dancers while continuing to
challenge physical potential, is absolutely necessary.
A wealth of information on elements of safe practice is available across the
dance sector. However, the source of this knowledge ranges from informal
advice to complex scientific studies. There are advantages and disadvantages to
both of these approaches. Journal articles are not always an accessible read, and
would benefit from being distilled into a user-friendly format. Yet all too often
the informal approach can be subjective, confusing, and potentially damaging.
The solution is to translate the extensive theories and scholarly research and
present it in a way that supports accessibility and encourages application.
As the title proposes, the purpose of Safe Dance Practice is to present an applied
dance science perspective of the integrated principles that are essential to any
dance experience and to provide guidelines on how to implement these in
practice. The book is intended as a manual that can inform and support dance
practitioners as they carry out their activities across an ever-growing pool of
styles and genres and with a potentially diverse range of participants. The
subject matter is explicitly relevant to dancers and dance teachers; however, the
term dance leader is used throughout this book to encompass any position of
leadership within dance. Therefore, accountability for knowledge and
application of the subject matter lies also with choreographers, rehearsal or
company directors, studio managers, school or university principals, directors,
heads of departments or course leaders.
The integration of the following key aspects of safe practice is central to the
theme of the book, distilling theory and research, combining it with informed
theme of the book, distilling theory and research, combining it with informed
practitioner wisdom and presenting it through easy to understand guidelines that
deal with the what, where, when, how and why of working safely in dance:
Creating a physically and psychologically safe and supportive dance
environment
Understanding relevant anatomical principles and biomechanically sound
alignment
Implementing effective physiological preparation and progression
Minimising injury risk and understanding injury management
Tailoring delivery to the specific needs of the participants
The content is divided into 11 comprehensive chapters, following an
introduction that provides an overview of safe dance practice principles and their
intended application. The chapters are purposefully organised so that the reader
can progressively advance through the book in sequential order or engage with
specific chapters independently, if preferred. Cross-referencing is included
throughout in order to guide the reader to related information that may appear in
other areas of the book. Common to all chapters are clear headings, subheadings,
highlighted key points, case studies and at-a-glance summaries that provide
quick access to key information and encapsulate the main messages of each
chapter, allowing readers to easily relate the content to their own practice.
Chapters 1 to 8 present fundamental environmental, anatomical, physical and
psychological principles of safe dance practice. Each of these chapters includes
strategies and examples for putting the principles into practice in relation to
different dance styles and settings. Chapter 9 acknowledges that dancers as a
population are susceptible to injury due to the nature of the activity and therefore
includes strategies for injury management. Chapter 10 focuses on possible
adaptations of the principles to a range of specific dancing populations and
stresses the importance of identifying the needs of different learners. Ongoing
monitoring and self-evaluation of personal practice in order to regularly reflect
on the effectiveness of safe dance application is addressed in the concluding
chapter, including a useful safe practice checklist and personal evaluation
template. In addition, a series of useful aides and pro formas, as well as a contact
list of sources for additional information, are included as appendices.
While a research-informed grounding is integral to the whole book, certain
chapters lend themselves to a more pragmatic approach, resulting in a collation
of published research, standardised recommendations, practitioner wisdom and
real-life experiences. Some chapters present theoretical principles that relate to