Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE DCS5011

 
TITLE Dance, Health and Wellbeing

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 5

 
DEPARTMENT Dance Studies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit will introduce students to current research and key issues in the areas of performance psychology, somatics and theories of perceptual learning as applied to dance practice and performance. The role of dance as a means to enhance well-being and health in general populations will also be explored and students will be given the opportunity to devise their own project which evaluates the impact of dance in such settings.

Students will be acquainted with theories from: motor learning, neuroscience, embodiment and somatic practice and will be expected to critically engage with these theories. Practical and experiential sessions in the studio covering a variety of somatic practices, applied and experiential anatomy, body-work and other practical activities will support and enhance lectures and seminars.

Study-unit Aims:

- To cultivate knowledge and understanding of key issues through practice and through theoretical frameworks in the fields of performance psychology and psychophysical embodiment relevant to dance practice, performance and health;
- To familiarise students with current debates and underlying fundamental principles of science and somatics and their place within a paradigm of embodied knowledge;
- To develop critical skills and knowledge of methodology, in order to be able to assess the relevance and diversity of scientific method as applied to movement and dance practice;
- To understand the health benefits of dance in a general population and the relevant research in this area to date;
- To facilitate the acquisition of selected research skills relevant to this field.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to recognise the benefits and limitations of relating theoretical models to dance practice;
- Research and critically examine the relevant literature from dance studies, somatic practices, motor learning and psychology;
- Demonstrate knowledge of an interdisciplinary approach to performance enhancement;
- Articulate understandings and applications of performance psychology theories and somatic principles within dance science and dance practice.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- Observe, reflect upon and evaluate their own movement patterns and those of others;
- Debate alternative methodologies and argue for and against different approaches;
- Apply relevant methodologies to document subjective experience;
- Critically evaluate and report on research in a manner consistent with academic convention;
- Demonstrate knowledge of and be able to adhere to research ethics when involving human participants in research;
- Demonstrate strategies for documenting and analysing work done in the field.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Text/s:

- Bainbridge Cohen, B (1993) Sensing, Feeling and Action. Massachusetts: Contact editions.
- Blakey, P. (1992). The Muscle Book. Stafford: Bibliotek Books.
- Calais-Germain, B (1993) Anatomy of Movement. Seattle: Eastland Press.
- Clippinger, K (2007) Dance Anatomy & Kinesiology. Champaign. IL:Human Kinetics.
- Franklin, E (1996) Dance Imagery for Dance Technique and Performance, Champaign. IL: Human Kinetics
- Franklin, E (2004) Conditioning for Dance, Champaign. IL: Human Kinetics.
- Johan, D (2003) Job’s body: A handbook for bodywork. New York: Station Hill Press.
- Johnson, D. (1995) Bone, breath and gesture: practices of embodiment North California: Atlantic Books.
- Koutedakis, Y and Sharp, N. C. C. (1999). The Fit and Healthy Dancer. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
- McArdle, DM, Katch F I & V L Katch (2001) Exercise, Physiology, Energy, Nutrition and Human Performance, London: Lea and Febiger.
- Myers, T (2001) Anatomy Trains. London: Churchill Livingstone.
- Sweigard, L.E. (1974) Human movement potential: Its ideokinetic facilitation. Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America.
- Todd, M. (1968) The Thinking Body, Pennington: Princeton.

Supplementary readings:

- Arnheim, D D (1986), Dance Injuries: Their Prevention and Care, London: Dance Books.
- Bales, M and R Nettl-Fiol, (2008) The Body Eclectic: Evolving Practices in Dance Training, Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois.
- Cash, Mel (2000) Pocket Atlas of the Moving Body, London: Ebury Press.
- Howse, J. & M McCormack (2009) Anatomy, Dance Technique and Injury Prevention, London: Methuen Drama.
- Laws, H. (2005). Fit to Dance 2. London: Dance UK.
- Laws, K. (1984) The Physics of Dance London: Collier MacMillan.
- Solomon, J & Cerny Minton, S (2005) Preventing Dance Injuries, Leeds: Human Kinetics Europe.
- Tortora, G J & B Derrickson (2006) Principles of Anatomy and Physiology, 11th edn, London: John Wiley and sons.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Blended Learning

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Portfolio Yes 30%
Presentation No 70%

 
LECTURER/S Erin Sanchez

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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