Sara Houston

I speak internationally on community dance and political issues concerning dance and the arts. I am passionate about everybody dancing whatever age, gender or ability. In teaching, I focus on the skills and issues connected with delivering dance in community settings, as well as guiding students through sociological, aesthetic and political theories applied to dance.

I am particularly interested in dance for people who feel marginalised in society. My current prize-winning research project (2010 - 2014) centres on the impact of dancing for those living with Parkinson's and has been commissioned by English National Ballet. In 2011, the Bupa Foundation awarded me its prestigious Vitality for LifePrize for the Dance for Parkinson's research.

As a dance consultant I have undertaken research in an adult male prison with Motionhouse Dance Theatre and Surrey Forensic Psychology Unit as part of Arts Council England's Dancing Included project (2003 - 2004), and within a school setting for Handsworth King Edward VI School Birmingham (2004 - 2005). I received a Research Fellowship from the University of Surrey to examine reflection as a tool for professional development for arts managers (2006 - 2008). In 2014 the Higher Education Academy awarded me with a National Teaching Fellowship.

I was trained at the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance and I was awarded my PhD by Roehampton in 2002, which examined the relationships between community dance and New Labour discourse. I have taught across the vocational and university sectors in the UK. I am Chair of the Board of Trustees and Directors of People Dancing: the Foundation for Communitiy Dance.

BA (Hons), MA, PhD, PGCAP, NTF, PFHEA

Community dance, Parkinson's, dance and health, politics of dance, dance aesthetics, sociology of dance, dance in marginalised communities, reflection for professional development.

English National Ballet Dance for Parkinson's (2010 - 2015)

Examining reflection as a tool for professional development for music and dance managers in the subsidised sector (2007 - 2008)

Research and evaluation for King Edward VI Handsworth School Birmingham (2004 - 2005)

Dancing Inside for HMP Dovegate, Motionhouse Dance Theatre and Surrey Forensic Psychology Unit (2003 - 2004)

Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Fellow of the Association of National Teaching Fellows

Society for Dance Research

English National Ballet Dance for Parkinson's (2010 - 2014)

Research and evaluation for King Edward VI Handsworth School Birmingham (2004 - 2005)

Dancing Inside for HMP Dovegate, Motionhouse Dance Theatre and Surrey Forensic Psychology Unit (2003 - 2004)

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