Safe and Effective Dance Practice

DanceEast is launching a new, year long programme of professional development for dance teachers and practitioners, based at the Jerwood DanceHouse, Ipswich.

For those who wish to formalise their training, a Safe and Effective Dance Practice qualification, awarded by Trinity College London, is now available and can be taken alongside these courses.

The courses can be attended independently or you can attend all four. Additionally, if you wish to be entered for the qualification you do not have to have participated in the courses. However, DanceEast would encourage all practitioners to update their skills regularly in order to take advantage of current theory and research.

These courses will be led by Elsa Bradley. Elsa is an independent Dance Scientist and Dance Educator based in the Eastern region. She gained an MSc with Distinction in Dance Science from Laban in 2008 and now works as the Dance Scientist for the DanceEast Academy. She is also a Lecturer in Dance at the University of Bedfordshire, leading modules in Dance Leadership and Entrepreneurship at undergraduate level. Elsa works closely with Youth Dance England, sitting on the Dance Advisory Group. She has worked in the community, education and professional dance sectors for the last 16 years, including for Norfolk Dance, Creative Partnerships, DanceEast, dancedigital, The Royal Ballet and The Birmingham Royal Ballet Education Departments. Elsa will lead each course and there will be options for continued learning outside of the courses and one-to-one tutoring. Each course will be a mixture of theoretical and practical learning. For those taking the qualification there will also be peer assessment and additional one-to-one learning options that will support your needs throughout the course.

Certificate in Safe and Effective Dance Practice
This certification is an exciting new initiative developed in a partnership between Trinity College London and the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS). Launched in October 2008 the Certificate recognizes best practice in delivering safe and effective dance activity. The Certificate has been accredited by the UK's Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) at Level 5 on the National Qualifications Framework. This is comparable in terms of assessment standard to the end of the second year of degree study.

Candidates registering for the qualification will be assessed regarding their knowledge of the key principles underlying healthy dance practice, including basic applied anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and injury management. In achieving the qualification, candidates will be able to demonstrate their knowledge of safe and effective dance practice to employers, parents and participants. Dancers at all levels will have confidence that the person teaching, rehearsing or coaching them is qualified and has demonstrated mastery of the knowledge required to work safely and effectively with professional dancers, dancers in training, children and dancers in the community. The qualification is in two parts, and assessments take place as videoed teaching practice and short essay questions. The qualification will be administrated and assessed by Trinity-trained assessors acting with the guidance of an IADMS advisory panel.  The qualification is applicable across all dance styles.

Trinity College London's qualification assessment fee is £125.00.

Choose the relevant course - Phone the Box Office on 01473 295230 to book - Develop your skills and knowledge flexibly

Course 1: Anatomy and Physiology in Dance - 15 & 16 April, 10am - 5pm, £100
Course 1 will focus on the anatomy and physiology of the dancing body.  Bone, joint and muscle action will be examined from a theoretical and practical perspective and a basic introduction to energy systems required for different types of activity will be explored.  Optimum nutrition and hydration for class, rehearsal and performance will also be discussed.  This course will encompass assessment and basic treatment of injury and assess the specific contraindications and exclusions of movement vocabulary in relation to your client groups.

Course 2: Promoting safety within your Dance Practice - 3 & 4 June, 10am - 5pm, £100 / £60 students
Course 2 will look at effective warming up and cooling down of the body and the specific requirements of different dance genres in preparation for dance.  Discussions will also focus on communication skills and reflective practices to ensure clarity, understanding and enhanced safe practice knowledge for group leaders and participants.

Course 3: Implementing Safety in Dance Activities - 3 & 4 September, 10am - 5pm, £100 / £60 students
Course 3 will investigate the specificity and progression of dance activity during a typical dance session - does the activity prepare the body adequately and does the class increase in intensity, length and difficulty at an appropriate rate for the client group?  Participants will devise a dance session, have the opportunity to teach this to other course participants and will be encouraged to reflect and develop their practice in preparation for the Safe and Effective Dance Practice qualification.

Course 4: Understanding Legalities of Safe Dance Provision - 25 October, 10am - 5pm, £50
Course 4 will focus on the importance of safe environments for dance participation, evaluating risks in relation to your dance practice.  Basic information regarding child protection, duty of care, basic first aid and insurance requirements will be discussed.  

Tutoring day - 26 October, 10am - 5pm, £50
Including peer assessment, discussion and preparation for assessments.


If you are a member of Youth Dance England's Dance Network Group for the Eastern region, you can apply for partial bursaries. Please contact Sophie Cryer, Youth Dance Co-ordinator (East), for more information call 01223 403477, or email sophie@junction.co.uk

First Aid and Child Protection qualifications are compulsory for those being admitted for assessment. These are not part of the course but DanceEast can advise you as to how to obtain them.

A £1 booking fee applies to all credit/debit card payments made by telephone, online and in person.