Promoting the Dance Scientists of the Future

It is well known that the future success of students is not based on curriculum content alone. Higher Educational Institutions need to provide opportunities for learners to engage with and interrogate life after study, whether that is further postgraduate study and research or becoming a professional. Networking with those from beyond the student’s home institution and engaging with narratives of learners’ journeys help current students make decisions about their future in an informed way. In addition, the health and wellbeing of performing artists is a firmly established element of the provision Trinity Laban has been developing through a range of support mechanisms for current students and professional performers.  To incubate the future batch of specialists, trained in understanding the performing body, our Dance Science department is a world leading centre of research and teaching. As part of our provision for MSc students studying Dance Science, and undergraduates who may be interested in further study in Dance Science, an annual networking and careers day has been opened up to Dance science students and graduates from across the UK.

The first Dance Science Student and Graduate Networking and Careers Day, held on 12th June, enabled students to establish connections, share ideas and discover opportunities. Organised by Edel Quin, Programme Leader of the MSc Dance Science, the day served to provide a professional insight into the world of Dance Science. The programme included presentations by current and past students from a range of MSc Dance Science programmes. Helen Laws, the Manager of the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science, also provided a talk on the educational, health care and research activities of the Institute and the role that Dance Science plays in the realisation of these endeavours.

One attendee noted ‘…the atmosphere created and the encouragement to share ideas and experiences with people from various institutions was great!’ and another commented on the inspirational entrepreneurship within the narratives of the past graduates as giving her ‘…confidence to find ways to share my knowledge with the dance world.’

For more details of our Dance Science programmes and provision for the healthy performer please visit the Dance Science website

Trinity Laban’s Dance Science and Health Screening and Profiling Service

The Screening and Profiling service, open to all dancers who make a living from dancing or who are in full-time training, is a unique aspect of the student experience. It is an ‘optional extra’ provided by the Dance Science and Health teams which many dancers engage with.

What is involved in Screening?

• 1 hour one-to-one physical assessments and personal feedback in the dance science lab, assessing aspects such as range of motion, body composition and muscular strength, power and endurance
• 25 minute one-to one physiotherapist functional assessment and feedback
• (For Dancers Only) A studio-based group dance specific fitness test, assessing stamina

What are the benefits of Screening?

• Assess your level of fitness
• Track your training progress
• Address potential injury risk
• Achieve your optimal performance potential

As experienced dance practitioners, the dance science team is well-equipped to help you enhance your training regime while increasing your knowledge and awareness of your own body’s potential. Individual one-to-one feedback sessions and a personal report will allow you to apply the latest theories and research findings directly to your personal artistic practice.

What happens to the information that is gathered?

• The information gathered is given back to the student in a one-to-one consultation
• The information is also stored confidentially for future reference
• On occasion anonymous group analyses are completed on the data to give an overview of the changing picture of students who take part in the screening process. This can be used to inform other aspects of Trinity Laban delivery.

Further information and detail on the assessments included in this screening is available on the Trinity Laban website or e-mail dancescience@trinitylaban.ac.uk. Trinity Laban is a partner of national institute of dance medicine and science (nidms).

For bookings please contact Trinity Laban Health on 020 8305 9479

Craniosacral treatment

As part of the induction process here at Trinity Laban Health we have a little taster of some of the treatments. I started with Craniosacral as it was the therapy I knew the least about; actually I have never even heard of it before.

Although I did briefly read some details about Craniosacral therapy on the Internet, none of which seemed to be written in plain English, I did not feel any more knowledgeable and actually felt a little worried I would be having my skull prodded.

When I entered the treatment room I was met with a smiling Marina who calmly explained what would happen and the benefits of having Craniosacral. To my pleasant surprise my taster session ended up being a 45 minute, very relaxing session which brought to light issues I did not even know I had; such as fatigue, poor sleep patterns and bad digestion. It left me feeling so relaxed I could almost feel my shoulders dropping away from me, and for once I did not fidget for the rest of the day which is pretty much a miracle for me!

Although it does not feel like Marina is doing much, it is a non-manipulative therapy where she places her hands on different areas of your body, to bring awareness and promote the body to heal itself naturally. The way I felt within myself was instantly noticeable; I slept very well that evening and became more aware of my inner body and some of the things we had discussed.

I have now convinced a friend and even my stubborn mum to have a go, and she is now having regular Craniosacral sessions for a foot injury.

Creative Thinking: Creative Teaching: Creative Practice

The Learning & Teaching environment at Trinity Laban Conservatoire focuses on the creative and innovative. Our tutors are focussed on developing and embedding approaches within their teaching that enable our students to become emboldened in creative practice. When you walk around our distinctive buildings and experience the vibe of the learning culture what is obvious is that creativity in its multifaceted guise is the foundation, whether you are involved in historic performance practice or devising contemporary choreography. Alongside this, part of our ethos (as highlighted in our Learning & Teaching Plan) is celebrating engagement with the broader creative and Higher Education communities to enable our expertise developed in teaching and creative practice to benefit those wider audiences. Recently, two members of the Faculty of Music have been disseminating their work, at external events. Both promote the harnessing of creativity within educational and creative parameters and their presentations reflect the philosophies and strategies that underpin their teaching.

Tim Palmer, Senior Lecturer in Music Education, recently took part in an HEA sponsored seminar at the University of York. The event, ‘Creative teaching for creative learning in higher academic music education’ held on May 13^th 2013 bought together experts in the field to discuss creative teaching approaches and strategies for developing creativity in music students.  Tim’s paper titled ‘Deconstructing and Reimagining Repertoire in Teacher Training’ was presented with the assistance of a current PGCE student and explored strategies to flip the conventional approaches to using repertoire as a teaching tool. Details of the seminar, including resources can be found on the HEA website: here

In another creativity focused event, Trinity Laban’s Creative Director of CoLab, Joe Townsend, presented at the Culture Capital ‘s ‘Research, Creativity and Business 2: Making the Extraordinary’ held at the Cass Business School on May 22^nd 2013. Joe led a workshop called ’CoLab – Risk, Flow and supporting collaborative work’  which reflected on his experience from the past two years in leading the annual CoLab fortnight and explored the question of how organisations and artists can nurture a meaningful exchange as a part of a creative process. The workshop explored the challenges faced in leading collaborative processes and what competencies can be developed through this approach.  For further details of the event, please explore the Culture Capital website here.

Creativity comes in all shapes and sizes of endeavour, and the work our colleagues are contributing to the field excites and challenges us. In a time when pressures on creativity and space for experimentation is threatened, it is more vital than ever that we promote new ways of thinking, seeing and doing  to ensure that the 21^st Century is as creatively rich as possible.