Dr Clare Parfitt shares with listeners the role of methodologies in her research and reflects upon journey as a researcher. Clare offers honest reflections concerning the translation of different ways of thinking and the potential challenges when asking questions from varying points of view. A thought-provoking episode that puts the researcher and those concerned with the research at the fore.

Clare is an interdisciplinary dance scholar working between popular dance studies, memory studies and Atlantic studies. At the University of Chichester she has been a Reader in Popular Dance, an AHRC Leadership Fellow, and she is currently a PhD Supervisor. Clare is Chair of PoP Moves, an international network for popular dance research, and Co-chair of the Memory Studies Association’s Performance and Memory working group. Her edited collection, Cultural Memory in Popular Dance: Dancing to remember, dancing to forget, is due to be published in October 2021 (Palgrave), and she is working on a monograph Remembering the Cancan: Popular dance and the kinetics of memory between France and the Atlantic world (OUP).

Contact: [email protected]

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Dr Ashley McGill discusses her PhD research investigating the experience of dancing with Parkinson’s (The University of Roehampton and the English National Ballet). Alongside sharing key findings from her research, she questions the role of randomised controlled research designs (RCT) and the wider applicability of research approaches and methods to dance for health research. Ashley poses thought-provoking questions concerning the importance of acknowledging contextual factors and the need for a more person-centred approach in dance for Parkinson’s research.

Weblink for Dance for Parkinson's research and publications: http://roehamptondance.com/parkinsons/articles/

Ashley is a visiting lecturer and researcher in Dance and Dance Science at University of Roehampton. Her research interests include the health and wellbeing impact of dance and how dance can benefit people with Parkinson’s.

Contact: [email protected]

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Dr Bethany Whiteside shares her experiences and insights of Dance Health Research, with a particular focus on the Engagement work of Scottish Ballet. In this thought-provoking episode we discuss the use of methodologies when capturing lived experiences and highlight the need for a person-centred focus within a research setting.

Bethany is a Research Lecturer and Doctoral Degrees Coordinator at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Since 2015, her research and knowledge exchange activity has been closely tied to the Engagement work of Scottish Ballet, Scotland’s national dance company.

Contact: [email protected] 

Social Media: @bethjwhiteside 

Staff Profile: https://pure.rcs.ac.uk/portal/en/persons/bethany-whiteside(cbad9dfc-8171-4c7d-bc2e-f803dac9b2ad).html

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Dr Imogen Aujla shares insight into the methodologies and methods she uses in research and reflects upon the methodological decisions she takes as a researcher. We discuss the importance of giving participants a voice in a research setting and the role that a mixed methods approach can play in gaining further insight into phenomena.

Imogen is a Senior Lecturer in Dance and Dance Science at the University of Bedfordshire. Her research interests include dance psychology, the health and wellbeing impact of dance, and talent identification and development in dance, particularly in inclusive contexts.

Contact: [email protected]

Virginia Farman discusses the methodological approaches used when creating work and shares insight into her current PhD practice.  We discuss the challenges researchers face during the research process and consider how dancers can reveal a vulnerability and understanding of a place.

Virginia is an artist- researcher and senior lecturer in dance and choreography at the University of Chichester. Her work is most usually associated with directing across a range of non-theatre locations and diverse situations. Virginia’s current PhD research draws on a portfolio of productions that use, dance, choreographic compositional and somatic practices, to cultivate dynamic exchanges between dancers and outdoor environments.

Contact: [email protected]

Links to recent works: https://vimeo.com/user45294792

Social Media: @vfarman1

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Series 1 - Episode 1: Researching Site Dance with Dr Vicky Hunter

Vicky Hunter discusses her own methodology for site-based body practice as a mode of exploring site synergies. Alongside sharing her processes for creating work, Vicky shares insights on the theoretical frameworks that more widely inform her practice-based research.  

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About Vicky 

Vicky is a Practitioner-Researcher and Reader in Site Dance and Choreography at the University of Chichester. 

Contact: [email protected]

Website: https://vickyhunter.weebly.com 

Staff Profile: https://www.chi.ac.uk/staff/dr-victoria-hunter

Academia.edu address: https://chi.academia.edu/VictoriaHunter

Recent Publications

Monograph publication 'Site, Dance and Body: Movement, Materials and Corporeal Engagement' (2021) is now available from Palgrave, follow this link: click here

Special Edition of Choreographic Practices journal (co editor) on 'Dancing Urbanisms':

https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/intellect/chor/2019/00000010/00000001/art00001 

Co authored book publication with Karen Barbour and Melanie Kloetzel on site dance follow this link:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Positioning-Site-Dance-Global-Perspectives/dp/1783209984

For details of edited volume Moving Sites: Investigating Site-Specific Dance Performance follow this link:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Moving-Sites-Investigating-Site-Specific-Performance/dp/0415713250/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1430142634&sr=1-1&keywords=moving+sites