Dance for health and wellness at Nenagh Arts Centre

This day will investigate the potential benefit of dance for health and wellness. 

It will combine practical workshops and discussion of existing research in the field of dance and health. Dancers and teachers and those with an interest in Dance for Health are welcome to join us in Nenagh on October 9th.

10-12.30 WORKSHOP
Title  The Creative Dancer
Name of teacher :  Clint Lutes

Clint Lutes(BFA Dance NYU Tisch) As a performer Clint worked with Johannes Wieland, Eun Me Ahn, Brian Brooks Moving Company, Yann Lheureux, Tino Seghal and others.
His choreographic work, based on non-verbal communication has been presented at the MoDaFe Festival, the Rohkunstbau Festival, Tanz im August, Biennale de la Danse OFF Lyon, Festival La Becquee, Cabaret Inestable Valencia, Format Ardeche, Institut Francaise Alexandria, Festspielhaus St. Pölten, Globalize Cologne, Theater Freiburg and at the Städtische Bühne Heidelberg. He created work with pvc Tanz Freiburg/Heidelberg, Cie Grenade, Festspielhaus St. Pölten, POSTTHEATER, Collectif Coin, with figure skating champion Katarina Witt, and the Chamaeleon Theater in Berlin.
He was invited to participate in the exchanges/programs: DanceWeb (2006), The Village/Tanznacht (2010), IDOCDE (2011-today).
Co-founder/Co-director of LUCKY TRIMMER Tanz Performance Serie in Berlin from 2003-2010. Co-founded/Co-director of the platform Manoeuvres in Grenoble (F). Collaborator in 2015 on Störung/Hafraah, a collaborative research project with dance/science/philosophy and Parkinson’s Disease at its core, and continues this research today, having co-founded the structure DaPoPa (F).
In 2016, Clint was artistic coordinator for the project 1:59, in collaboration with Paris Quartier d’Eté and Eun Me Ahn.
Clinte participates in ICI, a scientific and artistic research project studying improvisation and cognition in collaboration with the CNRS and Labodanse in Paris.
He has taught at ImPulsTanz, CND Paris/Lyon, Sasha Waltz & Guests, K3 Hamburg, Tanzhaus Zurich, Australian Dance Theater, Cal. St. University Fullerton, New York University and elsewhere.

13.30-15.30 RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS

Title
Irish Social Dance for Health and Wellbeing in later life
Name of speaker
Dr Orfhlaith Ni Bhriain
Description
This project was a collaboration between Irish World Academy of  Music and Dance and the Department of Clinical Therapies , University of Limerick. The project was led by Dr. Amanda Clifford and Dr. Orfhlaith Ni Bhriain. It examined the feasability of Irish Social Dance for community dwelling older adults and the potential benefit of dance classes for emotional health.

Biography:
Dr. Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain is an ethnochoreologist and Course Director of the MA in Irish Traditional Dance Performance programme at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Ireland. As an accomplished performer and teacher of Irish music, song and dance, she delivers workshops and seminars internationally and is a recognized expert in the Irish traditional music and dance world featuring in many broadcasts and documentaries on radio and television as cultural commentator.  Her research interests include Arts in Health , Irish Music and Dance studies and Music and Dance Education. She is an active member of the Arts and Health Research Cluster and a director of Dance Ireland.

 

Title
A RIPE approach to dance for an aging population.
Name of speaker
Gail Hewton (facilitated by Dr Grant McLay)
Description
Firstly, a showing of a short film titled “In a Different Space”. This is followed by (via video link with Australia) an explanation and insight into the making of the film. Secondly, insight into a professional movement practitioner’s approach discussing the possibilities (not limitations) of movement classes for an aging population. Finally, a short Q&A with Gail.
Biography:
Australian community dance practitioner, Gail Hewton, is Director of RIPE Dance working exclusively with older people in a range of settings and contexts. She teaches and leads dance for active and agile over 55s; older people with mobility issues; and aged care residents. Bringing 40 years of varied professional dance experience, Gail’s practice is underpinned by a relational approach and whilst focussed first and foremost on dancing her work also addresses health and wellbeing in a fun, safe, supportive and welcoming environment. Gail will offer an insight into her practice with older people and her relational approach and will speak briefly about her recent making of a short dance film In a Different Space which celebrates and showcases some of her dancers aged 60-101 years dancing their stories in places of significance to them.
For more information visit https://ripedance.com.au/

 

 

 

Title
The Three Bs: Brains, Bones, and Balance
Name of speaker
Dr Grant McLay
Description
Witnessing creativity and wellbeing of people with Parkinson’s disease through a dance practitioner’s lens.
Biography:
Grant McLay has over thirty years of involvement in the performing arts industry as a dancer, performer, choreographer, production facilitator and movement educator. Throughout his career he has worked in contemporary dance, ballet, musicals, plays, operas, and television. Since completing a practice-based MA in Dance Performance and Doctoral studies his research area is the mapping and re-interpretation of physical dynamics through movement notation and analysis, culminating in data Visualisation, Realisation and Dramatisation for performance environments.

16.00-17.30 ROUND TABLE
Title  Feedback and Discussion
Chair