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I am a Dance Scientist and Educator, working with a range of universities and dance providers across the UK. I gained an MSc with Distinction in Dance Science from LABAN in 2008 and now work as a Lecturer in Dance at the University of Bedfordshire on a part-time basis, leading units in Dance Leadership and Dance Entrepreneurship as well as delivering fitness, experiential anatomy and dance science-focussed technique classes at undergraduate level. I work with DanceEast (the national dance agency for the East of England) as the Dance Scientist and Health Education Tutor for the Centre for Advanced Training. I have also devised the Safe and Effective Dance Practice course at DanceEast for the Trinity Examination of the same name. I also work as a Lecturer in Dance and Dance Science and Health Coordinator at University Campus Suffolk, delivering experiential anatomy, physiology and applied psychology for the Dance in the Community undergraduate programme.
Prior to my current portfolio of work I trained as a dance artist at the University of Surrey and at London Contemporary Dance School, moving on to create and tour small-scale dance theatre work nationally and internationally. Alongside my performing career I have worked in the community, education and professional dance sectors since 1994, including for Norfolk Dance (as Senior Dance Artist), Creative Partnerships, DanceEast, dancedigital, The Royal Ballet and The Birmingham Royal Ballet Education Departments.
I am currently a Lecturer in Dance at the University of Bedfordshire. My work at University of Bedfordshire is two-fold: I lecture on the Dance and Professional Practice undergraduate programme in Dance Technique, Applied Choreography, Leadership and Entrepreneurship whilst also developing a long-term vision for developing dance science at undergraduate and postgraduate levels of study.
My academic research focuses on positive psychology in dance training and performance, using flow theory as a lens to examine optimal experiences across recreational, vocational and professional populations. I have recently undertaken practical research into the application of flow in teaching and learning with students at the University of Bedfordshire, examining the impact of flow on participants’ confidence and risk-taking in Contact Improvisation. I am now extending this research further, commissioned by the Film and Video Umbrella to work with visual artist, Dryden Goodwin, to examine how scientific and artistic research methodologies intersect to capture the optimal experiences of Olympic sportspeople; the results will contribute towards a national touring exhibition celebrating London 2012. Working in conjunction with Youth Dance England and The Junction, I am also contributing to nationally significant research in youth dance provision and its effects on sustained participation, health and wellbeing in under-resourced areas in the Eastern region. This project has been awarded an Inspire Mark as part of the Cultural Olympiad for London 2012. Finally my current research also extends to working with Akademi in the collation and dissemination of research findings pertaining to best dance practice in working with older adults across Greater London.
Frequency of flow
experiences in recreational, vocational and professional dancers.
Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, in press for publication
end 2010/ 2011
Going with the flow:
Risk-taking in Contact Improvisation
Bridging the Gaps: Teaching and Learning Conference, University of
Bedfordshire, July 2010
Positive dancing:
Antecedents of flow amongst recreational, vocational and professional dancers.
Healthy Dancer, Healthy Dance Teacher Conference, Estonia, June
2010
Frequency of flow
experiences in recreational, vocational and professional dancers.
International Association of Dance Medicine and Science Annual
Conference, The Hague, October 2009
Balancing
creativity, safe practice and health in community dance practice
Community Dance Leaders’ Course, Norfolk Dance, July 2009
Dancing in the
moment: Dancers’ flow experiences.
Foundations for Excellence, Dartington Hall, February 2009
The thing about
presence: flow
Dance UK News, in press
Developing Creative
Practice with Young People
Creative Partnerships Eastern Region Conference, Great Yarmouth,
March 2004
Maximising
Minds: The body-brain connection.
MailOut, December 2004
I currently sit on the Dance Advisory Group for East Youth Dance (Youth Dance England) and work closely with Youth Dance England in the development and sustainability of youth dance provision across the region. Previously I have been part of the steering group for bloom, a national Continuing Professional Development programme for dance artists, led by Cheshire Dance and contributed extensively to the development of the professional development programme at Norfolk Dance. I am currently convening the 1st International Congress of Dance in Health, From Motivation to movement: Towards an empirical understanding of the role of dance in health, to be held at the University of Bedfordshire in Summer 2011 (www.beds.ac.uk/dancescience). I am also devising a new MSc in Dance Science at the University of Bedfordshire, due to start in October 2011.
E: elsa.bradley@beds.ac.uk
T: 01234 793254
