The Healthier Dancer Programme Conference 2009: 'Dance Medicine: The Female Athlete Triad and Hypermobility' programme

The Healthier Dancer Programme Conference for 2009, Dance Medicine: The Female Athlete Triad and Hypermobility Conference, was jointly organised by the Royal Society of Medicine and Dance UK and aimed to promote a multidisciplinary approach, with insights from both medical practitioners and dance artists to discuss body aesthetics including ‘line’, body shape/type, and exceptional facility to push artistic boundaries and enthral audiences. Initial research discussed indicated that aesthetic demands did not always sit comfortably with the physiological and biomechanical requirements of dance performance. As elite athletes, dancers needed to walk a fine line to stay healthy, injury free, and perform at their best. This conference looked at how medical practitioners worked with dance artists to support the art form.

View the conference abstracts and biographies

View the conference summary report

Conference planning committee:

Dr John Scadding (chair); Dr David d’Cruz; Dr Richard Hull; Ms Helen Laws; Miss Nicole Leida; Ms Caroline Miller; Dr Alan Mistlin; Dr Sanna Nordin; Mrs Jo Parkinson; Ms Rachele Quested; Ms Emma Redding; Ms Elizabeth Sharp; Ms Sharon Sole; Ms Carmel Turner; Ms Katherine Watkins; Dr Roger Wolman.

List of Contributors:

• Dr Scilla Dyke MBE, Royal Academy of Dance
• Professor Rodney Grahame, University College Hospital, London
• Dr Richard Hull, Section of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, RSM
• Dr Jonathan Katz, Sports Psychologist
• Ms Helen Laws, Dance UK
• Ms Moira McCormack, Royal Ballet Company
• Mr Wayne McGregor, Wayne McGregor | Random Dance and Royal Ballet Company
• Ms Caroline Miller, Dance UK
• Ms Kim Pedrick MCSP SRP AACP, Chartered State Registered Physiotherapist
• Ms Rachel Peppin, Birmingham Royal Ballet
• Ms Emma Redding, Laban
• Ms Rachel Rist, Tring School for Performing Arts
• Dr John Scadding, Royal Society of Medicine
• Ms Elizabeth Sharp, ES Physical Health
• Ms Heather Walker ARAP (dip) PDTC, London Studio Centre
• Dr Roger Wolman MD FRCP FFSEM, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
• Dr Matt Wyon, University of Wolverhampton