COVID-19 has impacted dance communities across Australia. As the pandemic unfolded in early 2020, the Ausdance network (led by Ausdance Queensland) sought to capture data about the immediate and medium-term needs of dance professionals in order to develop sector-specific responses to the impact of COVID-19. I was engaged to analyse and report on data collected…

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the way people engage with arts, culture and creativity. Artists and cultural organisations are faced with decisions about how to connect with audiences and adapt to the changing circumstances. Patternmakers, 2020 In response to this challenge, a large-scale nationwide study is being undertaken to capture actionable data about how audiences…

In 2019 I guest edited the Journal of Emerging Dance Scholarship (JEDS) with Sarah Knox (University of Auckland). JEDS is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal and is designed to serve the needs of international dance scholars who are undertaking graduate research or within five years of having graduated from a graduate program in dance. JEDS has…

In 2017 I led a 10-month mixed methods research project on teaching practice for delivering ballet to active older adults and the subsequent wellbeing outcomes for participants. The findings strongly indicated that ballet participation was considered to be a highly pleasurable activity with positive outcomes felt across social, emotional and physical wellbeing. The research received…

Culminating in my PhD (awarded  2016), this research focused on the development and trialing of an open rehearsal model for non-expert audiences. Particular attention was paid to the experience of attending an open rehearsal and the subsequent performance experience, with the findings indicating a more intimate, personal relationship between rehearsal spectator and dancer. The open…

In 2015 I worked with Dr Erica Rose Jeffrey to undertake research and community consultation to inform the development of a youth training program for Expressions Dance Company. We used a mixed methods approach to ascertain industry gaps, opportunities, and the company’s unique position in the dance landscape. Expressions Dance Company has since actioned the…