I have performed, taught and choreographed in Edmonton, Calgary and Montreal. My dance training included study at both conservatoire and liberal arts institutions, a combination which allows my contribution to a variety of modules.

I relocated to the UK from Canada to teach on the choreographic performance and ballet technique modules at the University of Wolverhampton.

My technique teaching practice is informed by my passion for anatomy and dance science, while my choreographic teaching is based around helping students away from their learned movement habitus so they can investigate and develop personal choreographic signatures.

My interests in dance training include alignment, body awareness, injury prevention, physical and psychological performance enhancement and artistic/interpretive coaching for performance, whereas my choreographic and creative process explorations are based on self-portraiture, identity and gender.

• Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
• Member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science
• One Dance UK (institutional membership).

• Post-Graduate Certificate T & L in H.E, University of Wolverhampton, England
• MSc Dance Science, University of Wolverhampton, England
• STOTT Pilates Mat Work, STOTT Pilates, Toronto, Canada
• Post-Graduate Certificate Dance Science, University of Wolverhampton, England
• Bachelor Fine Arts Contemporary Dance (Dist), Concordia University, Montréal, Canada
• Professional Diploma Dance Performance (1st), Grant MacEwan University, Edmonton, Canada.

Publications & Co-Publications

• Nordin-Bates, S.M., Cumming, J., Aways,D., & Sharp,L. (2011). Imagining Yourself Dancing to Perfection? Correlates of Perfectionism Among Ballet and Contemporary Dancers, Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology, vol. 5, pp.58-76
• Koutedakis, Y., Clarke, F., Wyon, M., Aways, D. & Owolabi, E.O. (2009), Muscular strength: applications for dancers, Medical Problems of Performing Artists, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 157.

Conference Presentations- Movement Sessions 

• 2017- Aways, D. Alignment of the pelvis for dancers: and what if we talked about the pubic bone. Hour long Interactive Workshop at the 27th Annual Conference of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, Houston, Texas, USA
• 2016- Aways, D. Circuit training warm-up for dancers. Hour long Movement Session presented at the 26th Annual Conference of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• 2013- Aways, D. Rotate those Rotators. Hour long Movement Session presented at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science, Seattle, USA.

Papers

• 2015 & 2016 - Clarke, F., Aways, D. Dance science in an undergraduate dance programme: a multidisciplinary approach

Learning and Teaching Conference, University of Wolverhamtpon. UK

Dance in Higher Education’s Early Career Symposium, University of Bedofrdshire, UK

• 20th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science Conference in Birmingham UK 2010.
• D.Aways & D. Wilson, Emerging Independent Dancers and Podcasts fro Fitness Training: A Pilot Project.

Posters

• Symposium on the Psychology of Dance: Research and Application in Birmingham UK, 2010
• D.Aways, The use of scientific components as a tool for dancer profiling and the promotion of harmonious passion in dance: a case study
• 19th Annual meeting of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science Conference in the Hague 2010
• D.Aways, Technological observational learning for the improvement of classical ballet technique.

Employment History

University of Wolverhampton, England, UK

• 2019 - Present: Subject Leader Dance & Senior Lecturer Dance/ Dance Science
• 2011 - 2019: Course Leader MA Dance & Senior Lecturer Dance/ Dance Science
• 2007 - 2011 Senior Lecturer Dance

Liverpool Institute for Peforming Arts

• 2012 - 2016: External Examiner for BA (Hons) Dance

Ballet Divertimento de Montreal

• 1999 - 2005: Technique and Choreography Teacher

Performance Experience

• Benjamin Hatcher, Compagnie Bourane/Motaz Kabbani, Kondition Pluriel, Corps & Graff, Louise Bedard Danse, Mariko Tanabe Danse, Ditry Feet Dance Productions, Alberta Dance Explosions, Edmonton Fringe Festival.

Independent choreographic works shown at:

• Dancers’ Studio West Calgary, Edmonton Fringe Festival, Espace Tangente Montreal, Studio 303 Montreal among others.

Current Teaching Responsibilities

• Dance Practice Modules (Undergraduates levels 4, 5 & 6)
• Dance Performance modules (Undergraduates level 5)
• Dance Science (undergraduates levels 4 & 5)
• Choreography (undergraduates level 6)
• Dissertation Supervisor (undergraduates level 6 & Postgraduates Level 7)
• Body in Practice (MA module level 7)
• Research Methods (undergraduates level 6 & Postgraduates Level 7)

Current Non- Teaching Responsibilities

• Subject Leader for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Dance Courses
• Auditions, Open Days and Recruitment

Previous Teaching Responsibilities

• Dance Practice Modules (Undergraduates levels 4, 5 & 6)
• Dance Performance modules (Undergraduates levels 4,5 & 6)
• Dance Science (undergraduates levels 4 and 6)
• Choreography (undergraduates level 4)
• Dissertation Supervisor (undergraduates level 6)
• Body in Practice (MA module level 7)

Previous Non- Teaching Responsibilities

• Career Development Week Coordinator for the School of Performing Arts
• Faculty Enabling Tutor for School of Performing Arts
• Learning and Teaching Committee
• Validation and Modification Sub-Committee
• Dance Department Marketing Representative