Press release from Youth Dance England Dance: Streets Ahead

Press release from Youth Dance England

Dance: Streets Ahead

A new guide for teaching dance in schools – the first of its kind since 1993, has been produced and issued to schools in England.

The guide, called Dance In and Beyond Schools, gives teachers essential information and support in teaching the subject, in-line with the schools’ curriculum. The likes of which has not been available in such a form until now.

After football, dance is the most popular physical activity among young people in England. The Dance In and Beyond Schools guide gives teachers the ability to meet demands for high quality teaching. Currently only 10% of teachers teaching dance in schools and colleges in England have specialist qualifications in the subject, this publication allows all teachers to plan, develop and produce high quality dance classes for children and young people.

The all-encompassing guide tells the reader how to plan to teach a class, how to develop an individual’s and groups’ skills as well as how dance can benefit a young person’s health. The guide provides plans for class development in a step-by-step fashion, tips on how to inspire young people to create, watch and appreciate a performance and how to progress to a career in the field.

Chris Scott, 19, National Young Dance Ambassador said:

“I had the chance to take part in dance in and out of school – I was really lucky. It taught me lots of skills and helped me as a person. Many young people don’t have this opportunity – especially boys. My hope is that this guide inspires and helps teachers across England to teach dance and inspire others to start teaching in and out of schools.”

The 60-page publication, produced by Youth Dance England with support from a number of leading public bodies (see editors notes), draws on information from government departments and dance organisations, making an essential resource for teaching children and young people at primary and  secondary age level.

Richard Alston CBE, Chair of Youth Dance England and Artistic Director of the Richard Alston Dance Company said:

“I’m thrilled that Dance In and Beyond Schools has been written – it’s full of useful information and strikes a skilful balance between imagination and down-to-earth common sense; that’s all too rare and something to be really welcomed.”

A copy of the guide has been sent to schools in England, and will be launched to the dance sector at Youth Dance England’s conference on Thursday 23 September in London as one of the three major sector developments to be unveiled at the event.

As well as a resource for teachers, Dance In and Beyond Schools is a tool for dance practitioners, allowing them to gain new, and develop existing skills in working with young people, such as linking schools to the wider community, planning local, regional and national events. 

Dance in and Beyond Schools is available on-line to download for free from today at www.yde.org.uk/publications hard copies can be obtained from Youth Dance England, copies are free (p&p apply).

From motivation to movement: Towards an empirical understanding of the role of dance in health.

1st International Congress of Dance in Health, Summer 2011, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford, UK

This international conference invites discussion of the role of dance in health, bringing together academics, scientists, artists and policymakers to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, invigorate and discuss emergent research and debate the convergence of dance and health. From dance activity in schools to the health of dancers in professional vocational settings; from older people dancing to elite performance; from motivation to movement, the potential for dance to address health and wellbeing is at the forefront of political debate.

The University of Bedfordshire is welcoming abstracts from researchers examining the role of dance in health across recreational, vocational and professional sectors. Abstracts will be peer reviewed by the conference committee comprising international scholars across dance science, sport and dance studies.

We invite abstracts of no more than 300 words for presentations, performances, workshops and posters. For further details and how to submit, please click here.

Not to miss TV this month

Title: Destino: A Contemporary Dance Story
Broadcast Info: 19 Sep 2010, 16:00 (70 mins)
Channels: Community Channel
Description: Destino: A Contemporary Dance Story

Title: The Royal Ballet Celebrates Kenneth
MacMillan
Broadcast Info: 24 Sep 2010, 21:10 (40 mins)
Channels: BBC4
Description: The second of a two-part programme
celebrating the genius of choreographer
Kenneth MacMillan in the year in which he
would have turned 80. The Royal Ballet
perform the Judas Tree, the Laurence
Olivier Award-winning ballet which was
MacMillan's last work before his untimely
death of a heart attack at the age of 62.
Set on a building site in Canary Wharf it
is a highly charged ballet of brutal
betrayal and tense sexual violence. Puls
interviews with dancers Carlos Acosta,
Leanne Benjamin and Ed Watson

Title: The Royal Ballet Celebrates Kenneth
MacMillan
Broadcast Info: 24 Sep 2010, 20:00 (70 mins)
Channels: BBC4
Description: First of a two-part programme celebrating
the genius of choreographer Kenneth
MacMillan in the year in which he would
have turned 80. The three works featured
are danced by the Royal Ballet and they
showcase the beauty and dramatic power of
MacMillan's choreography. Concerto is an
early work danced to the music of
Shostakovich and is followed by Elite
Syncopations, in which brightly-coloured
dancers burst into life to the music of
ragtime. Plus, interviews with dancers
Carlos Acosta, Sarah Lamb and Ed Watson,
and director of the Royal Ballet, Monica
Mason

It's also the last....

Title: Ballet School
Broadcast Info: 14 Sep 2010, 19:00 (30 mins)
Channels: BBC2 Wales
Description: Last in the series following five children
from Wales across a whole year in a premier
vocational ballet school, the Elmhurst
School for Dance in Birmingham. It's the
end of the school year and futures are
being decided - but only two of the five
Welsh pupils will be returning to Elmhurst
for another year

Have no idea if this would be interesting but the series might be worth a look:
Title: Sport Science
Broadcast Info: 12 Sep 2010, 09:00 (60 mins)
Channels: Bravo
Description: Scientists and athletes answer some of the
most interesting questions about sport.
Each episode features a sports star,
hi-tech tests and impressive graphics. The
experts look at the results of a head butt
in football and uncover the physiology
behind a temporarily devastating injury
every man on the planet can relate to: a
hit to the testicles

New Arts and Health Website

There is now an overwhelming body of evidence demonstrating that participation in the arts and access to a range of arts opportunities can dramatically improve health outcomes and increase wellbeing. By supplementing medicine and care, the arts can improve the health of people who experience mental or physical health problems. Engaging in the arts can promote prevention of disease and build wellbeing. The arts can improve healthcare environments and benefit staff retention and professional development.

This new website has been compiled by the London Arts in Health Forum working with other partners in the field of arts in health. These organisations are working together as the National Forum for Arts in Health – an association of organisations looking to develop the role of the arts in improving wellbeing in England.

www.cultureandwellbeing.org.uk

Power Dance System

Laura Stanyer has re-launched her website

An online resource for dancers with practical advice through top tip videos, monthly dance articles and products providing information and inspiration to help dancers, students, performers, and choreographers in their dance activities promoting wellbeing.

Including dance visualisations downloads to help dancers with overcoming stage fright, enhancing stage presence and recovering from injury.

Check it out!

August 2010 Events Dance Teacher Summit The Hilton Hotel  New York City, NY  August 2-4, 2010 The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries will be participating in the 2010 Dance Teacher Summit at The Hilton Hotel in NYC from August 2-4th. This annual conference attracts hundreds of dance teachers from around the world to learn from master teachers through a variety of movement sessions, seminars and workshops. To learn more about the 2010 Dance Teacher Summit or for information on upcoming conference dates, visit their website atwww.danceteachersummit.com. Cracking the Core Gina Gibney Studios 890 Broadway  August 23, 2010 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. FREE The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, in collaboration with Dance/NYC, will be presenting a workshop for dancers and dance teachers, entitled “Cracking the Core”. This workshop will take place on August 23rd and marks the beginning of a series of workshops offered by the HCDI and Dance/NYC team to provide state-of-the-art healthcare information to the dance community. "Cracking the Core" workshop content will include a review of the functional anatomy and importance of the core musculature in injury prevention. The workshop will also provide practical instruction in how to strengthen the core muscles specifically for the demands of dance. Space is limited. Please RSVP for this event by visitinghttp://crackingthecore.eventbrite.com/ Research Studies Strength Training Study The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries is looking for adolescent male dancers to participate in a six week upper extremity strength training program. Participants must be enrolled in ballet classes, be in good health and between the ages of 12 and 16 years. The study measures the effect of a three-time per week strength training program before and after a six week participation commitment. Each session lasts for one hour. Please call or e-mail us to discuss the study further or to volunteer: Leigh Heflin, MSc or Alison Deleget, MS, ATC 212-460-0153 or harkness@nyumc.org Jump Study The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries is looking for male professional or collegiate dancers and male and female professional or collegiate athletes to take part in a scientific research study investigating the effects of fatigue on jumping ability. Participants must be in good health and between the ages of 18 and 40 years. Each participant will be asked to jump from a height of approximately 15 inches onto a flat surface while measurements of joint motion, muscle activity, and force are taken. A $50 cash honorarium will be given to all participants. To go behind the scenes with the Harkness Center's team of experts and see a demo of the research protocol on NY1 click here. To see the related article in the New York Times click here. Please call or e-mail us to discuss any questions you have about this project or to volunteer: Megan Richardson, MS, ATC 212-460-0157 or harkness@inbox.com Tip of the Month Yoga can be a great complement to your dance training. Unfortunately, yoga injuries are on the rise. This may be due to crowded classes, under-informed teachers, or a student’s tendency to be overly competitive in class. Other times, a student’s specific body type may contribute to an injury which is often the case with dancers. Dancers tend to be overly flexible and it is this quality that can get them into trouble with certain yoga poses. TIP: Protect your shoulders in DOWNWARD FACING DOG The pose “downward dog” can put undue stress on the shoulder joint if not performed with a modicum of restraint. Many dancers tend to “hang” and over extend through the shoulders and spine in downward dog position, putting the shoulder ligaments at risk of overstretching. Ligaments are designed to stabilize the shoulder joint and overstretching them can cause instability, clicking and joint pain. Over time, loosening of the ligaments can even lead to dislocation of the shoulder joint. To protect your shoulder joints in downward dog position, engage your scapular muscles to provide support for the arms and wrists ensuring correct and proper alignment of the shoulder joint. Avoiding the “hang” behavior in the downward dog position will allow for a healthier yoga and dance practice for years to come. The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries’ On-Going Services Include: Orthopaedic Medical Care and Consultations Orthopaedic Surgery Services Dance Physical Therapy and Athletic Training Services FREE Injury Prevention Assessments Injury Prevention Lectures and Workshops Biomechanical Research and Analysis Raked Stage Evaluations Therapeutic Pilates and Yoga Fitness and Private Coaching Financial Assistance for the Un- and Under-Insured Dancer Visit our website for further information or call the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries to schedule an appointment. Help Support Our Next 20 Years The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries is part of a not-for-profit organization that survives on contributions from the dance community and its friends. Help us to continue our services for another 20 years by becoming a supporter of the Center.
This newsletter is published by The Harkness Center for Dance Injuries

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