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16 Feb 2010 09:05:59
Research on the impact dance can have on young people’s health and wellbeing is being carried out by the University of Bedfordshire this year.
The dance science project is in association with Youth Dance England and will run from this September until Christmas.
The 12-week creative dance programme will take place in areas across the region where there is currently poor dance provision. The towns and cities chosen over the six counties in the Eastern Region are Luton, Watford, Peterborough, Thetford, Thurrock and the Forest Heath district of Suffolk.
Lead researcher is Elsa Bradley, a new part-time dance lecturer at the Bedford campus this academic year, who completed her MSc in Dance Science at LABAN in 2008.
Dr Angel Chater, senior lecturer and deputy course director of MSc Health Psychology, is supporting the project and research assistants will be recruited from graduating dance and sports science students.
Elsa said: “The project is inspired by London 2012 and the hopes that this large-scale event can inspire people to get moving. We want to know whether an activity like dance can change exercise behaviour for the long term. We’re adding to the pool of knowledge that dance can improve people’s health.
“The research will look at whether the programme can improve physical health. It will also examine psychological wellbeing and whether that is improved.”
The youngsters will fill in questionnaires and undergo physical testing before and after the programme, allied with focus group interviews, while their teachers will take observational notes.
This is the only dance project in the East to receive an Inspire Mark from the Cultural Olympiad.
There is a consortium of funders from the health and physical activity sectors including Youth Dance England and regional primary care trusts.
A pilot scheme has already started in Diss, Norfolk, for Year Six students. Elsa continued: “This is the transitional year between primary and secondary education.
“Children are weighed as part of the National Child Measurement Programme during Year Six, a key measure in the Government’s campaign to reduce obesity in children, so it makes sense to align the research to this age group.”
A new MSc in Dance Science is set to be launched at the University in September 2011. This will be preceded by a conference on the role of dance in public health in summer 2011 when the programme’s findings will be presented.
Latest news» 2010» February» Research on the benefits of dance
