ResDance Series 6: Episode 8: Science inquiry in dance practice with Sarah Needham-Beck

ResDance Series 6: Episode 8: Science inquiry in dance practice with Sarah Needham-Beck In this episode, Sarah shares insight into her background as a researcher and her research across dance and occupational performance settings.  We discuss her interests in applying scientific principles to a dance context and how researchers can assist dancers with the training and performance demands they may face. Throughout the episode, we explore the wider considerations around supporting the individual in their dance pursuit through the importance of open communication and finding effective ways of working collaboratively between the researcher, artist and practitioner. Sarah highlights the value of dance science education and the need for a greater understanding around the nuances of dance practice within research settings. Sarah is a Research Fellow in Exercise Physiology and Program Coordinator of the MSc Dance Science at the University of Chichester, UK. Sarah’s research spans dance and occupational performance settings and investigates topics including field measurement of physiological demand, monitoring training load, and developing fitness tests. She has published original research in various peer-reviewed journals and regularly presents at international conferences. Sarah is a longstanding member of the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) where she currently serves on the Board of Directors.  Contact details: Twitter: @SarahCBeck Other social media handles: Instagram: @_IADMS_ Website: www.iadms.org   Links to any published resources: Needham-Beck, S., Wyon, M.A., & Redding, E. (2019). The Relationship Between Performance Competence and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Contemporary Dance. Medical Problems of Performing Artists, 34(2), 79-84. Beck, S., Redding, E., & Wyon, M.A. (2015). Methodological considerations for documenting the energy demand of dance activity: a review. Frontiers in Psychology: Performance Science, 6: 568. Link to Google Scholar for full publications list: https://scholar.google.com/citationsuser=WWYHBTwAAAAJ&hl=en Please share this episode with students, educators, practitioners, performers, and interdisciplinary researchers curious to learn more about dance research in action.