ResDance

• ResDance Series 9: Episode 2: Reflections on human connections and dance activism with Richard Chappell

  ResDance Series 9: Episode 2: Reflections on human connections and dance activism with Richard ChappellIn this episode, Richard Chappell offers insight into his experiences as a choreographer and into the workings of his lead ensemble, Richard Chappell Dance. Our conversation explores his creative processes and the ways his work examines how human connection in dance can restore and heal. Together, we discuss the importance of building a moreemotionally healthy dance sector—one that prioritises the care and well-being of artists—and the ongoing need to highlight the positive enrichment that dance brings to people’s lives. Richard reflects on the vital role of belonging and community in creative work, and how these elements foster a collective hope and joy. BiographyRichard Chappell is an internationally renowned and award-winning choreographer. Since 2013, Richard has led his ensemble Richard Chappell Dance as a platform for his choreographic research and critically acclaimedperformance work. Richard's creative process is rooted in collaboration and co-authorship. His creations explore human connection as an act of restoration, making space for people to connect deeper with themselves, each other and theland around them. The ensemble’s work shines a light on what people have overcome and where they are going, through the lens of social and climate justice. The ensemble produces work through partnerships with the Royal OperaHouse, BBC Arts, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Dance City, The Place, Studio Wayne McGregor, National Dance Company Wales, British Council, Bristol Museum, Greenwich and Docklands International Festival and British High Commission,amongst many others. Richard has held associateships with Exeter Northcott and Dance in Devon. Richard Chappell Dance is a sector leading organisation, working at the forefront of theatre touring, site responsive performance, artistdevelopment and community co-creation. Richard is currently Co-Chair of Swindon Dance and is a Clore Leadership Fellow.As a guest choreographer, Richard has created work forrenowned dance companies and institutions, including Rambert School, Stuttgart Ballet, BalletWorks, English National Ballet, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Singapore), Belfast Ensemble, Bcause Dance Company (Poland), Transitions Dance Company and Frontier Danceland (Singapore). Richard has guest lectured for renowned courses, including Rambert School, ArtEz Institute of the Arts(Holland), Lasalle College of Arts (Singapore), Singapore School of the Arts, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Bath Spa University and Tring Park School and was a Support Worker for five years through Robert Owen CommunityFoundation.Headshot Credit:  Radek Zawadzki Contact DetailsSocials: Instagram: @richard.chappell.danceFacebook: @richardchappelldanceOther Socials: @leadandcreate Please share this episode with students, educators, practitioners, performers, and interdisciplinary researchers curious to learn more about dance research in action. 

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• AHRC Dance Research Matters Network Series: Episode 7: Reflections on the Critical Dance Pedagogy Network with Angela Pickard and Kathryn Stamp

  AHRC Dance Research Matters Network Series: Episode 7: Reflections on the Critical Dance Pedagogy Network with Angela Pickard and Kathryn Stamp In this episode, Angela and Kathryn revisit the central aimsand rationales of the Critical Dance Pedagogy Network.  They discuss insights that emerged from the network’s symposiums and artist labs, examining how these spaces have facilitated meaningful dialogue around critical dance pedagogy, equity, diversity, inclusion, and student-centred approaches to learning. Through reflecting on their own pedagogical and artistic practices, Angela and Kathrynconsider the significance of embodied experience in shaping both individual learning and the broader dance education environment.Critical Dance Pedagogy NetworkThe network sought to connect academics, dance educators, researchers, artists, industry stakeholders in the UK with international peers in Scandinavia/Nordic and US as guest speakers, to support collaboration, and maximise opportunities for new thinking on the topic of Critical Dance Pedagogy. In particular understandings of equity, diversity and inclusion and student-centred pedagogy, through practice (Artist Labs) and discourse (four hybrid symposium events). The network attracted an international following as well as from across the UK. In addition to the original planned events, a focus on dance and PE teachers in training and PhD students was added. Website: ⁠www.criticaldancepedagogy.com/home⁠Twitter: @SDHContributor Biography: Professor Angela PickardProfessor Angela Pickard is the UK’s first Professor of Dance Education and a globally recognised leader in the fields of dance pedagogy, dance and health, and dance science. She holds dual directorships at Canterbury Christ Church University: the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health, and the Centre for Sport, Physical Education and Activity Research (SPEAR), where she leads interdisciplinary research that bridges creative practices, public health, and education. Angela is a practitioner and academic and leads several mixed methods projects including practice based and participatory, and is Principal Investigator for the Critical Dance Pedagogy Network. Her research explores the intersections of dance education and dance and health, drawing on sociology, psychology and pedagogy. She is Editor-in-Chief of the Research in Dance Education journal, a leading international platform for scholarly dialogue in the field, and serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science. She is a sought‑after keynote speaker and consultant, known for her ability to translate complex theory into practical frameworks that support dancers, educators and clinicians.Contact: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠Contributor biography: Kathryn Stamp Kathryn is a researcher and educator, currently an Assistant Professor at Coventry University’s Centre for Dance Research (C-DaRE). Her work explores inclusive dance practices, critical pedagogy and the role of dance in fostering social and physical well-being. A passionate advocate for collaboration and public engagement, Kathryn is Co-Chair of the Society for Dance Research, a board member of Dance HE, an ambassador for AWA DANCE, and serves on the We Are Epic advisory board. Her recent books include Ethical Agility in Dance: Rethinking Technique in British Dance (Routledge, 2023), co-edited with Noyale Colin and Catherine Seago, and Dancing (Emerald Press, 2024), co-authored with Colin as part of the Arts for Health series.Email: [email protected]: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kathryn-stamp-847642137 AHRC-funded Dance Research Matters NetworksThe five AHRC-funded Dance Research Matters Networks explore current issues and generate change and legacy for the sector. For more information, please visit: danceresearchmatters.coventry.ac.uk    Instagram and Twitter: @danceresearchmatters

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• ResDance Series 9: Episode 1: Embedded in Dance Research: The first graduating cohort of MA Dance: Participation, Communities, Activism

  ResDance Series 9: Episode 1: Embedded in Dance Research: The first graduating cohort of MA Dance: Participation, Communities, Activism In this episode, the cohort come together to explore movement practices and the way in which they continue to embed themselves and their practices within their own communities. Through situating our conversation around their own practices, we explore ideas around community, participatory and activist movement practice and the role of a co-creating process in negotiating a coming together in the space of cultural thinking. In this rich conversation, contributors offer insight into the ways in which they continue to interrogate and develop practice in the pursuit of making change by placing themselves atthe fore, to question how we come together in imagining how the future may look and the wider value of doing things differently in the light of the shifting discourses and challenges of the moment.Gladys Agulhas, Marilia Bassetto Coelho, Anno Bolender, Joseph Jeffers, Filip Kijowski, Bianca Kruppa, Jo Parkes, Ruth PethybridgeProfiles of the staff and students in conversation can befound here: https://theplace.org.uk/lcds-courses/madancepcaMA Dance Participation, Communities, Activism This MA Programme is for students who want to develop a socially engaged dance practice which addresses theurgencies of our times. You will join a global community of artists and researchers working at the intersection of community dance and arts activism. You may have an emerging community, participatory or activist movement practicewhich you want to develop, or you may be an established maker who wants to interrogate and develop your practice in the light of the shifting discourses and challenges of the moment.Photo credit: Carim Agulhas Dance: Gladys AgulhasFor more information please visit: https://theplace.org.uk/lcds-courses/madancepca Instagram: @ma_dance_pca  Please share this episode with students, educators, practitioners, performers, and interdisciplinary researchers curious to learn more about dance research inaction.

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• ResDance Series 8: Episode 11: Moving Beyond Barriers: Progression and Employment in Dance for Disabled People with Imogen Aujla and Louisa Petts

  ResDance Series 8: Episode 11: Moving Beyond Barriers: Progression and Employment in Dance for DisabledPeople with Imogen Aujla and Louisa Petts.In this episode, Imogen and Louisa share insight into their thinking and considerations around inclusive danceand dance and disability in the sector. Through exploring the work of their research project, looking at the progression and employment in Dance for disabled people (Beyond Barriers in Dance Project), they reflect upon the accessibilityof the research and key findings from the research project. Throughout the episode, we discuss the importance of evidencing the barriers that disabled people experience when working in dance and the role of documenting experiences as ameans of initiating wider discussions, awareness and understanding of what access means in a dance organisation. Imogen and Louisa highlight the value of disabled representation on the research team, the importance of access underpinning a research process and the need for greater network opportunities and collaboration across the sector. Imogen Aujla Imogen is a freelance dance psychology researcher, lecturer,and life and wellbeing coach. She originally trained as a dancer before specialising in dance science and later dance psychology. She has a PhD in dance psychology and a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Prior to going freelance, Imogen was a Senior Lecturer in Dance and Course Coordinator of the MSc Dance Science at the University of Bedfordshire. As well as her project-based freelance work, she is a regular guest tutor on the MAS Dance Science at the University of Bern, Switzerland, is a peer tutor for the mental health charity Mind. Imogen’s research interests include talent development, inclusive dance, and psychological wellbeing among dancers. She has published over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and has presented her research internationally. Beyond Barriers in Dance: https://www.beyondbarriersindance.info/Contact details:Facebook: @danceinmindUKInstagram: @dance_in_mind_UKWebsite: www.danceinmind.org Louisa PettsDr Louisa Petts (she/her) is a deaf researcher, lecturer (AFHEA) and community dance artist. She recently completed her PhD at the Centre for Dance Research (C-DaRE), Coventry University (2024) exploring ableism, healthism and ageism within dance for older adults. She received the Arts and Humanities Research Council Studentship Award from Midlands4CitiesDoctoral Training Partnership. Her research centres around person-centred, accessible and empowering creative practice, with a focus on ethics, positionality and methodological clarity. Her work also draws from her community dance practice with people living with dementia and Parkinson’s. Currently, she is working on funded project Barriers to Progression &Employment in Dance for Disabled People (Arts Council England), appointed by Candoco Dance Company, Corali, People Dancing, Stopgap Dance Company and TINArts, to address the lack of representation and leadership opportunities for D/deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, blind and visually impaired, learning-disabled, and chronically ill individuals within the dance sector. She also works as Editorial Manager for the Journal of Dance and Somatic Practicesand Research, Impact and Innovation Officer at LAMDA.Contact details: Email: [email protected] Social Media:Instagram: lou_pettsLink to any published resources:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/louisa-petts-1702Please share this episode with students, educators, practitioners, performers, and interdisciplinary researchers curious to learn more about dance research inaction.     

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• ResDance Series 8: Episode 12: NEUROLIVE: An interdisciplinary study of liveness with Guido Orgs and Matthias Sperling

  ResDance Series 8: Episode 12: NEUROLIVE: An interdisciplinary study of liveness with Guido Orgsand Matthias SperlingIn this episode, Guido and Matthias discuss NEUROLIVE, a 5-year interdisciplinary research collaboration that brings artists, scientists and audiences together to study what makes live experiences special.  We explore how the bringing together of performance making and cognitive performance science has shared insight into how such collaborations can questionliveness and the distinctiveness of live performance, more generally.  Guido and Matthias highlight the value of artistic and scientific disciplines being fully realised in collaborative contexts and wider considerations around the role of dance practices and knowledge in contributing to developments in other fields. Guido OrgsGuido Orgs is a Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience and Group Leader of the Movement & Performance Group at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at UCL, and also has a background as a dancer. He is the Principal Investigator and Scientific Director of NEUROLIVE.Contact DetailsEmail: [email protected] SperlingMatthias Sperling is an artist, choreographer and performer. His work investigates knowledge-generation in dance and choreographic practice as an embodied process of conjuring. He is Co-investigator and Artistic Director of NEUROLIVE.Contact DetailsEmail: [email protected] MediaInstagram: @matthias_sperlingNeurolive NEUROLIVE is a 5-year interdisciplinary research collaborationthat brings artists, scientists and audiences together to study what makes live experiences special. Funded by the European Research Council, the project is a collaboration between University College London, Goldsmiths University, the MaxPlanck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics and Siobhan Davies Studios.Website: neurolive.infoInstagram: @neurolivenessPublished Sources Rai, L., Lee, H., Becke, E., Trenado, C., Abad-Hernando, S., Sperling, M., Vidaurre, D., Wald-Fuhrmann, M., Richardson, D., Ward, J., Orgs, G (2025). Delta-band inter-brain synchrony reflects collective audience engagement withlive dance performances. iScience. Available at: https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(25)01183-6 Lee, H., Ashwell, C., Sperling, M., Rai, L., & Orgs, G. (2025). Engaged and confused: Aesthetic appreciation of live andscreened contemporary dance. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity and the Arts. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1037/aca0000727Please share this episode with students, educators, practitioners, performers, andinterdisciplinary researchers curious to learn more about dance research in action.     

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