Dance research rated outstanding

The research was carried out by School of Sport, Performing Arts and Leisure experts and the completed project was rated outstanding by the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

The aim of the project was to examine whether increases in physical fitness affect physical and aesthetic components of classical and modern dance performance. The research team comprised of Dr Matt Wyon, Professor Alan Nevill and Professor Yiannis Koutedakis from the University.

They found there is a relationship between physical fitness and the aesthetic components of dance performance, and that as physical fitness improves so does the aesthetic abilities of the dancer.

They also found that low levels of aerobic fitness were associated with injuries in both the ballet and contemporary dancers studied.

Dr Matt Wyon, Principle Investigator, said: “This is a wonderful acknowledgement for a very successful research project. Not only did we manage to increase the number of outputs from the project but the two research students on the project also gained their doctorates.

“The University of Wolverhampton is establishing itself as a centre of excellence in the field of dance medicine and science and it is great to get recognition for our research from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.”

Some of the research outputs from this project was presented at this year’s IADMS Conference which the University was hosting in conjunction with Birmingham Royal Ballet from October 28-30 at Birmingham Hippodrome.

For more information about the conference visit www.iadms.org

ENDS

For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736