Dance, Health and Wellbeing: Debating and Moving Forward Methodologies

1 January 2019 - 1 June 2021

Project webpage(s)

Dance, Health and Wellbeing: Debating and Moving Forward Methodologies

About the research

Evidence of the positive benefits of dance on developing physical aspects of health and fitness is now widely recognised. Building on this, this research sought to develop understanding of the under-researched aesthetic, artistic and creative contributions that Dance makes to Health and Wellbeing across the life course. In particular, it focused on what kinds of methodologies are appropriate for investigating these contributions, and how these methodologies can generate findings which extend how we understand the impact of the arts on health and wellbeing.

The research took a transdisciplinary approach, bringing together arts education and community research and practice, together with dance science and dance health practice. This was represented in the research team which included Kerry Chappell and Ursula Crickmay at UoE, working together with colleagues at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and Dance in Devon.

The research included a literature review of recent peer-reviewed research, practice-based literature and evaluations and also a series of focus group discussions with dance/health practitioners and participants in dance/health projects. Findings were shared through publication and a symposium at The Wellcome Collection London.

You can read the Systematic Literature Review here.

You can read the Focus Group Findings and Project Report here.

You can find out more about the symposium here.