Parenting and Dance Network
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch of Arts, English and Languages
Abstract
This 24-month, international networking project aims to bring together dance researchers, artists and industry stakeholders to exchange ideas on the topic of parenthood in dance practice. Through a series of three seminar workshops (1 x Queen's University Belfast (QUB), 1 x Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU), 1 x Texas Tech University (TTU)), the network will establish new scholarly discourse across existing disciplinary boundaries in approaches to the topic of parenthood and dance through connecting researchers working through different disciplinary lenses and methodologies (e.g., performance-based; sociological; physiological/psychological). In addition to fostering interdisciplinary interactions within academia, the network will also connect researchers with leading dance industry organisations at the forefront of sectoral and policy research related to parenthood in dance. Collaboration with dance industry project partners Dance Mama (UK), PiPA (UK), and Balancing Act (Canada) will connect academic researchers with a wide range of public stakeholders and beneficiaries, creating pathways for communication of research findings and engagement with artists, and fostering network growth and policy co-development.
Network participants include a core network team and supporting advisory group comprising 14 international researchers and industry partner representatives: Dr Aoife McGrath (PI, QUB), Dr Ali Duffy (Co-I, Texas Tech), Professor Angela Pickard (CCCU), Dr Madeline Harvey (Colorado State), Dr Shamell Bell (Harvard), Professor Emily Underwood Lee (University of South Wales), Professor Emma Redding (University of Melbourne), Dr Lena Simic (Edge Hill University), Susie Burpee (Balancing Act, Canada), Anna Ehnhold-Danailov (PiPA, UK), Lucy McCrudden (Dance Mama, UK), Erin Sanchez (OneDance UK), Aisling McCormick (QUB), and Chloe Hillyar (QUB). The core network will meet regularly across the lifetime of the project (online to allow international participation) and will support the delivery of three seminar events (hybrid) for further invited participants (including policy makers, artists, educators, students, and researchers), and participants recruited through an open call across the core team's networks.
Network seminars (40 participants at each seminar) will include activities employing a variety of research methodologies to engage with the different disciplinary perspectives represented by core network participants, and to explore possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration. All seminars will include practice-based workshops, panel discussions, and a concluding roundtable talk that will be made available to the public on the network's webpage. Each seminar will focus on one of three overarching research questions co-developed by the PI and Co-I in consultation with the core network team:
- Seminar 1: What creative processes, research methods, and performance practices address and/or support parenthood and dance? (QUB)
- Seminar 2: What physiological and psychological experiences are related to parenthood and dance? (CCCU)
- Seminar 3: What economic, political, and socio-cultural contexts intersect with parenthood and dance? (Texas Tech)
Developed in collaboration with the project industry partners, the dissemination and engagement strategy for the network includes academic, industry, and public-facing outputs. The network will (i) publish a webpage hosted by industry partner, Dance Mama (UK), that will function as a public-facing international platform for the network that will continue beyond the lifetime of the project (ii) engage videographers to document seminar activities and a series of participant video diaries/blogs for public dissemination on the webpage (iii) generate both academic and industry-facing publication outputs that engage with a broad range of stakeholders including academics, industry stakeholders, and the general public.
Network participants include a core network team and supporting advisory group comprising 14 international researchers and industry partner representatives: Dr Aoife McGrath (PI, QUB), Dr Ali Duffy (Co-I, Texas Tech), Professor Angela Pickard (CCCU), Dr Madeline Harvey (Colorado State), Dr Shamell Bell (Harvard), Professor Emily Underwood Lee (University of South Wales), Professor Emma Redding (University of Melbourne), Dr Lena Simic (Edge Hill University), Susie Burpee (Balancing Act, Canada), Anna Ehnhold-Danailov (PiPA, UK), Lucy McCrudden (Dance Mama, UK), Erin Sanchez (OneDance UK), Aisling McCormick (QUB), and Chloe Hillyar (QUB). The core network will meet regularly across the lifetime of the project (online to allow international participation) and will support the delivery of three seminar events (hybrid) for further invited participants (including policy makers, artists, educators, students, and researchers), and participants recruited through an open call across the core team's networks.
Network seminars (40 participants at each seminar) will include activities employing a variety of research methodologies to engage with the different disciplinary perspectives represented by core network participants, and to explore possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration. All seminars will include practice-based workshops, panel discussions, and a concluding roundtable talk that will be made available to the public on the network's webpage. Each seminar will focus on one of three overarching research questions co-developed by the PI and Co-I in consultation with the core network team:
- Seminar 1: What creative processes, research methods, and performance practices address and/or support parenthood and dance? (QUB)
- Seminar 2: What physiological and psychological experiences are related to parenthood and dance? (CCCU)
- Seminar 3: What economic, political, and socio-cultural contexts intersect with parenthood and dance? (Texas Tech)
Developed in collaboration with the project industry partners, the dissemination and engagement strategy for the network includes academic, industry, and public-facing outputs. The network will (i) publish a webpage hosted by industry partner, Dance Mama (UK), that will function as a public-facing international platform for the network that will continue beyond the lifetime of the project (ii) engage videographers to document seminar activities and a series of participant video diaries/blogs for public dissemination on the webpage (iii) generate both academic and industry-facing publication outputs that engage with a broad range of stakeholders including academics, industry stakeholders, and the general public.
| Description | We have conducted an impact survey after every seminar event, and the following are examples of responses received that evidence impact for professional/industry participants: Responses from participants who reported a "change in knowledge": "I know more about what is happening in the challenges that parents in dance face." "I learned so much about the actual laws and regulations in the United States as well as abroad. I also learned about some interesting organizations that I didn't know existed." "There is finally data being collected on dance mamas!!" "I will relook at [UK dance company] pregnancy / miscarriage policy to make sure it is supportive" Responses from participants who reported a "change in attitude": "A greater understanding of the challenges and needs of women in dance careers." "As an Artistic Director I will be evaluating our policies concerning support for women and dance." "I want to be involved and look at the state of parenting in the arts in my own industry." Responses from participants who reported a "change in relationships": "similarities across the globe and the use of international research, since it does to a certain extent include all dance parents." "I felt instantly bonded to this community of strong and empathetic leaders in their varied dance fields and disciplines." |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Public-facing project webpage hosted by Dance Mama |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The project webpage is hosted by Dance Mama, a very well-established public-facing website with strong industry links and a global reach with the target engagement audiences beyond academia (e.g., dance professionals, dance industry stakeholders and policy makers). The webpage was published at project start in July 2023 and was successfully implemented as the recruitment and registration point for a broad range of participants across both academia and industry for the first seminar at Queen's University Belfast in September 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.dancemama.org/internationalparentinganddancenetwork |
| Description | Seminar 2: Canterbury Christ Church University: what physiological and psychological experiences are related to parenting and dance? |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Seminar 2 - Researching Parenting and Dance: what physiological and psychological experiences are related to parenting and dance? This day-long hybrid seminar brought together researchers, artists and industry stakeholders from across the globe to consider scholarly and practice-based methods and processes used to research and communicate physiological and psychological perspectives of parenting and dance. 46 people participated in the seminar, including the core research network members, academics, artists and industry stakeholders. Participants engaged in workshops, paper panels, screenings, and a closing reflective discussion. Hybrid participation allowed global connectivity, with participants joining from the US, Canada, and the EU. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.dancemama.org/internationalparentinganddancenetwork |
| Description | Seminar 3: Texas Tech University: Exploring the Economic, Political, and Socio-Cultural aspects of Parenting and Dance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Seminar 3 - Researching Parenting and Dance: Exploring the Economic, Political, and Socio-Cultural aspects of Parenting and Dance. This day-long hybrid seminar brought together researchers, artists and industry stakeholders from across the globe to consider scholarly and practice-based methods and processes used to research and communicate economic, political, and socio-cultural perspectives of parenting and dance. 78 people participated in the seminar, including the core research network members, academics, artists and industry stakeholders, and undergraduate students of Dance Studies at Texas Tech. Participants engaged in paper panels, a workshop, live performance, screenings, and a closing reflective discussion. Hybrid participation allowed global connectivity, with participants joining from the US, Canada, and Germany. . |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.dancemama.org/internationalparentinganddancenetwork |
| Description | Seminar at Queen's University Belfast: |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | Seminar 1: Researching Parenting and Dance: what creative and practice-based methods and processes' address and/or support parenthood and dance? This day-long hybrid seminar brought together researchers, artists and industry stakeholders from across the globe to consider creative and practice-based methods and processes used to research and communicate the topic parenting and dance. 52 people participated in the seminar, including the core research network members, academics, artists and industry stakeholders. Participants engaged in workshops, talks, screenings and a closing roundtable discussion. Hybrid participation allowed global connectivity, with participants joining from India, New Zealand, and across the US. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.dancemama.org/internationalparentinganddancenetwork |