Seminar on Dance in Education

Comhaimseartha Seminar

Dance Research Forum Ireland in association with the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance

Presents a seminar on Dance in Education

Wednesday 1st November, 2006

Seminar Chair: Dr Catherine Foley

Catherine Foley designed and is course director of both the MA in Ethnochoreology and the MA in Irish Traditional Dance Performance at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick.

Speakers: Dr. Jacqueline Smith-Autard, Teresa Leahy, Sharon Phelan.

About the Speakers:

Dr. Jacqueline Smith-Autard.
From initial experience over five years as a dance teacher in a secondary school, Jacqueline Smith-Autard has lectured in five colleges/universities for 45 years - mostly delivering dance teacher education. Practical work has always been the seedbed for her research contributions to dance education in the form of books, many articles, and latterly, in the context of Bedford Interactive, CD ROM Resource Packs. She has also been instrumental in development of examinations in dance at school level, development of dance in the UK National Curriculum, and is founder honorary member of the National Dance Teachers' Association in the UK, former chair of daCi UK, member of the editorial board for the international journal - Research in Dance Education, external examiner for dance teacher courses and has acted as consultant for government agencies and in several other countries. Retirement from the University of Leeds in 2004, except for continuity in tutoring PhD students, does not end her career. She will no doubt go on authoring materials for dance for years to come.

Title of Presentation: The Art of Dance in Education - principles and practices today in the UK National Curriculum and secondary examination syllabuses and a look to the future dance teacher in a technology world.

This presentation is jointly presented by Jacqueline Smith-Autard and Teresa Leahy.

Teresa Leahy lectures at the University of Limerick in the Department of Physical Education and Sport and Exercise Sciences. She has been responsible for dance within the Physical Education undergraduate programme since 1974. Since then she brought many dance companies from within Ireland and further afield to the University to work with her students, including one from the USA. She always recognised the need to have dance in education considered as an art if it is to be of educational significance. Her vision for dance in education included the appointment of a dance-artist-in-residence and the establishment of a Dance in Education Company at UL. Daghdha Dance Co. was subsequently formed with education as its main objective. In the 1970's and 80's dance in education was in the spotlight in the UK because of the work of Jacqueline Smith-Autard. She developed the 'Midway Model' of dance as art in education. This model was universally recognised as the most progressive method of introducing dance to children in schools both within PE and the Performing Arts. Teresa brought a team of like-minded people around her in the early 1990's to develop a dance programme based on this exciting initiative. This programme for practising teachers is intended to equip the participants with the skills necessary to teach dance as art in schools. The programme is the 'Graduate Diploma/Masters in Dance' and she is the Programme Director.

Sharon Phelan has a BA in Physical Education and English, an MA in Culture Studies and a Diploma in Speech and Drama. She is completing a PhD in Culture Studies [Dance]. She worked as Physical Education/ English teacher and Education Officer with The Department of Education; Communication Officer with the NCCA and Extern Examiner with the NCCA and FETAC in Dance and Performing Arts. She revised and delivered the Dance Modules on the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme and provided dance in-service for the Department of Education, FETAC, PEAI and PE PAYS. Sharon performed professionally with Siamsa Tire and worked as Artistic Director with the Ionad Culturatha in Ballyvourney. She lectures in Dance, Culture Studies and Creative Practice on degree programmes at the Institute of Technology, Tralee.

Title of Presentation: The Leaving Certificate Applied Dance Programme: Content, Structure and Delivery