Artist wellbeing: exploring the experiences of dance artists delivering community health and wellbeing initiatives

Journal article


Collard-Stokes, G. and Irons, Y. 2022. Artist wellbeing: exploring the experiences of dance artists delivering community health and wellbeing initiatives. Research in Dance Education. 23 (1), pp. 60-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/14647893.2021.1993176
AuthorsCollard-Stokes, G. and Irons, Y.
Abstract

Research evidence indicates the ability of dance to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing through its unique combination of creative expression, movement and social connections. This article explores the wellbeing of independent dance artists/practitioners delivering initiatives for the UK’s social prescribing scheme. The article examines the experiences, practices and professional development of dance artists/practitioners providing community dance programmes with a particular focus on enhancing participants’ wellbeing. Dance artists/practitioners participated in a UK-wide online survey (n = 30) and a focus group discussion (n = 3) between May to September 2019. Using a qualitative methodology, we examined the dance artists/practitioners’ practice, perspectives and needs. Three themes emerged – barriers to wellbeing, isolation and support networks. Four crucial areas of concern were highlighted. 1) Clearer distinctions between social prescribing, arts in primary/secondary care and participatory, community arts programming. 2) Improved dialogue between dance artists/practitioners, employers/commissioners, communities and training providers. 3) Action to address the lack of affective support and training for dance artists/practitioners working in a health and wellbeing context, and 4) Recognition. The independent dance sector still has work to do in order to provide dance artists/practitioners with access to training, peer support, professional development and wellbeing provision.

Keywordsarts for health; social prescribing; dance artist wellbeing; community dance; personal narratives
Year2022
JournalResearch in Dance Education
Journal citation23 (1), pp. 60-74
PublisherRoutledge, Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN1464-7893
1470-1111
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/14647893.2021.1993176
Web address (URL)http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14647893.2021.1993176
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates04 Mar 2022
Publication process dates
Accepted11 Oct 2021
Deposited09 May 2022
Permalink -

https://repository.derby.ac.uk/item/96q8y/artist-wellbeing-exploring-the-experiences-of-dance-artists-delivering-community-health-and-wellbeing-initiatives

Download files

  • 81
    total views
  • 14
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 1
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Positive Psychology Interventions to Increase Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, and Confidence and Decrease Anxiety among Students with Dyslexia: A Narrative Review
Dana Abu Omar, Ann Kirkman, Scott, C., Ivana Babicova and Irons, Y. 2024. Positive Psychology Interventions to Increase Self-Esteem, Self-Efficacy, and Confidence and Decrease Anxiety among Students with Dyslexia: A Narrative Review. Youth. 4 (2), pp. 835-853. https://doi.org/10.3390/youth4020055
What are the skills, attributes and knowledge for group singing facilitators? A systematic review
Irons, Y., Bonshor, M., Tip, L., Sophie Boyd, Nicola Wydenbach and David Sheffield 2024. What are the skills, attributes and knowledge for group singing facilitators? A systematic review. International Journal of Community Music. 17 (2), p. 129–60. https://doi.org/10.1386/ijcm_00101_1
An Exploration of People Living with Parkinson’s Experience of Cardio-Drumming; Parkinson’s Beats: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study
Irons, Y., Williams, A., Holland, J. and Jones, J. 2024. An Exploration of People Living with Parkinson’s Experience of Cardio-Drumming; Parkinson’s Beats: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 21 (4), pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21040514
Effectiveness of dance movement therapy and dance movement interventions on cancer patients’ health-related outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abu-Odah, H., Wang, M., Su, J., Collard-Stokes, G., Sheffield, D. and Molasiotis, A. 2024. Effectiveness of dance movement therapy and dance movement interventions on cancer patients’ health-related outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Supportive care in cancer. 32, pp. 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-024-08431-4
Social action art therapy and the enhancement of political imagination
Bird, J., Bird, L. and Collard-Stokes, G. 2023. Social action art therapy and the enhancement of political imagination. Journal of Applied Arts and Health. Mar 2023 (14), pp. 47-61. https://doi.org/10.1386/jaah_00126_1
Drama and dementia
Holmwood, C., Collard-Stokes, G. and Ward, A. 2023. Drama and dementia. Healthcare Counselling and psychotherapy Journal. 23 (2), pp. 18-20.
The Need for Robust Critique of Arts and Health Research: Young People, Art Therapy and Mental Health
Grebosz-Haring, Katarzyna, Thun-Hohenstein, Leonhard, Schuchter-Wiegand, Anna Katharina, Irons, Y., Bathke, Arne, Phillips, Kate and Clift, Stephen 2022. The Need for Robust Critique of Arts and Health Research: Young People, Art Therapy and Mental Health. Frontiers in Psychology. 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.821093
Singing
Irons, Y. and Hancox, Grenville 2021. Singing. Emerald Publishing Limited.
"I don’t want to hold your hand": Can Covid-19 public health messages delivered through songs?
Sheffield, David and Irons, J Yoon 2020. "I don’t want to hold your hand": Can Covid-19 public health messages delivered through songs? Health Psychology Update.
How Many Maneuvers Should We Do for Maximal Inspiratory and Expiratory Muscle Pressure Testing in Children: A Retrospective Review in Children with Cystic Fibrosis
Boonjindasup, Wicharn, Chang, Anne B., Marchant, Julie M., Irons, J. Yoon and McElrea, Margaret S. 2021. How Many Maneuvers Should We Do for Maximal Inspiratory and Expiratory Muscle Pressure Testing in Children: A Retrospective Review in Children with Cystic Fibrosis. Lung. 199 (2021), pp. 213-222. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-021-00422-0
Songs for health education and promotion: a systematic review with recommendations
Sheffield, David and Irons, J. Yoon 2021. Songs for health education and promotion: a systematic review with recommendations. Public Health. 198 (Sep 2021), pp. 280-289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2021.07.020
‘Withness’: Creative spectating for residents living with advanced dementia in care homes
Astell-Burt, Caroline, McNally, Theresa, Collard-Stokes, Gemma and Irons, J. Yoon 2020. ‘Withness’: Creative spectating for residents living with advanced dementia in care homes. Journal of Applied Arts and Health. 11 (1-2), pp. pp. 125-133(9). https://doi.org/10.1386/jaah_00024_7
Creative critical representation of the choreographer’s creation process
Collard-Stokes, Gemma 2020. Creative critical representation of the choreographer’s creation process. Dance Chronicle. 43 (3), pp. 343-349. https://doi.org/10.1080/01472526.2020.1827871
Group singing improves quality of life for people with Parkinson’s: an international study
Irons, J. Yoon, Hancox, Grenville, Vella-Burrows, Trish, Han, E-Y, Chong, H-J, Sheffield, David and Stewart, Donald E 2020. Group singing improves quality of life for people with Parkinson’s: an international study. Aging and Mental Health. 25 (4), pp. 650-656. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1720599
An integrative systematic review of creative arts interventions for older informal caregivers of people with neurological conditions
Irons, J Yoon, Garip, Gulcan, Cross, Ainslea J, Sheffield, David and Bird, Jamie 2020. An integrative systematic review of creative arts interventions for older informal caregivers of people with neurological conditions. PLos ONE. 15 (12), p. e0243461. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243461
Recreational burlesque and the aging female body: challenging perceptions
Collard-Stokes, Gemma 2020. Recreational burlesque and the aging female body: challenging perceptions. Journal of Women and Aging. 34 (2), pp. 155-169. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2020.1839319
A group singing program improves quality of life: An international study
Irons, J. Yoon, Hancox, Grenville, Vella-Burrows, Trish, Han, E-Y, Chong, H-J, Sheffield, David and Stewart, Donald E 2019. A group singing program improves quality of life: An international study. University of Derby.
Cochrane systematic review singing for people with parkinson’s: preliminary findings
Irons, J. Yoon, coren, Esther, Young, Megan K, Gschwandtner, Manfred, Stewart, Donald E and Mellick, George D 2019. Cochrane systematic review singing for people with parkinson’s: preliminary findings. University of Derby.
Music, public health, and health promotion: Can music be a social determinant of health?
Stewart, Donald E and Irons, J. Yoon 2018. Music, public health, and health promotion: Can music be a social determinant of health? in: Palgrave Macmillan.
An Agenda for Best Practice Research on Group Singing, Health, and Well-Being
Irons, Y. 2019. An Agenda for Best Practice Research on Group Singing, Health, and Well-Being. Music & Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/2059204319861719
Singing as an adjunct therapy for children and adults with cystic fibrosis
Irons, J. Yoon, Petocz, Peter, Kenny, Dianna T and Chang, Ann B. 2019. Singing as an adjunct therapy for children and adults with cystic fibrosis. Cochrane. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008036.pub5
A systematic review on the effects of group singing on persistent pain in people with long‐term health conditions
Irons, J. Yoon, Sheffield, David, Ballington, Freddie and Stewart, Donald E 2019. A systematic review on the effects of group singing on persistent pain in people with long‐term health conditions. European Journal of Pain. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.1485
Singing for people with Parkinson's disease
Irons, Y., Coren, Esther, Young, Megan K., Stewart, Donald E., Gschwandtner, Manfred and Mellick, George D. 2019. Singing for people with Parkinson's disease. Cochrane. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd013279
Expressing suchness: on the integration of writing into a dance practice
Collard-Stokes, Gemma 2019. Expressing suchness: on the integration of writing into a dance practice. Journal of Dance & Somatic Practices. 11 (1), pp. 115-128. https://doi.org/10.1386/jdsp.11.1.115_1
Group singing has multiple benefits in the context of chronic pain: an exploratory pilot study
Irons, J. Yoon, Kuipers, Pim, Wan, Aston and Stewart, Donald E 2019. Group singing has multiple benefits in the context of chronic pain: an exploratory pilot study. Pain Management Nursing. 21 (3), pp. 259-264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2019.07.008
Music, public health, and health promotion: Can music be a social determinant of health?
Irons, Y. 2018. Music, public health, and health promotion: Can music be a social determinant of health? in: Palgrave Macmillan.
Singing as an adjunct therapy for children and adults with cystic fibrosis
Irons, J.Y., Petocz, P., Kenny, D.T. and Chang, A.B. 2016. Singing as an adjunct therapy for children and adults with cystic fibrosis. Cochrane Library. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd008036.pub4
Singing as an adjunct therapy for children and adults with cystic fibrosis
Irons, J.Y., Petocz, P., Kenny, D.T. and Chang, A.B. 2014. Singing as an adjunct therapy for children and adults with cystic fibrosis. Cochrane Library. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd008036.pub3
Out in the Woods: the integration of writing into an environmental movement practice
Collard-Stokes, G. 2013. Out in the Woods: the integration of writing into an environmental movement practice. CADRE Research Student Conference. University of Wolverhampton.
Moving and Writing: a body story
Collard-Stokes, G. 2013. Moving and Writing: a body story.
In Other Words
Collard-Stokes, G. 2013. In Other Words. Bath Arts Fringe.
Exploring the Health Benefits of Singing for Young People with Cystic Fibrosis, Using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY)
Irons, Y., Kuipers, Kathy and Petocz, Peter 2013. Exploring the Health Benefits of Singing for Young People with Cystic Fibrosis, Using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for Children and Youth (ICF-CY). International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation. 20 (3). https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2013.20.3.144
Dancing Narratives: moving towards a dance-writing ecology
Collard-Stokes, G. 2012. Dancing Narratives: moving towards a dance-writing ecology. CADRE Research Student Conference. University of Wolverhampton.
Singing Therapy for Young People With Cystic Fibrosis: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Irons, J.Y., Kenny, D.T., McElrea, M. and Chang, A.B. 2012. Singing Therapy for Young People With Cystic Fibrosis: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study. Music and Medicine. 4 (3), pp. 136-145. https://doi.org/10.1177/1943862112452150
Finding common ground through language and movement: examining the role of the writer in Rosemary Lee’s The Suchness of Heni and Eddie
Collard-Stokes, Gemma 2012. Finding common ground through language and movement: examining the role of the writer in Rosemary Lee’s The Suchness of Heni and Eddie. Research in Dance Education. 13 (2), pp. 215-234. https://doi.org/10.1080/14647893.2012.687370
Writing Practice, Practising Writing
Collard-Stokes, G. 2011. Writing Practice, Practising Writing. Dance Transformations Symposium, C-DARE Coventry.
Singing for children and adults with cystic fibrosis
Irons, J.Y., Kenny, D.T. and Chang, A.B. 2010. Singing for children and adults with cystic fibrosis. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD008036.pub2
Singing for young people
Irons, Y. 2010. Singing for young people.
Singing for children and adults with bronchiectasis
Irons, Y., Kenny, D.T. and Chang, A.B. 2010. Singing for children and adults with bronchiectasis. Cochrane. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007729.pub2
Singing for children and adults with bronchiectasis
Irons, J.Y., Kenny, D.T. and Chang, A.B. Singing for children and adults with bronchiectasis. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd007729
Singing for children and adults with cystic fibrosis
Irons, J.Y., Kenny, D.T. and Chang, A.B. 2009. Singing for children and adults with cystic fibrosis. Cochrane Library. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd008036
Artist-led, artist-used: experiences at Coventry's Summer Dancing 2009
Pollard, Niki, Coe, Katye, Collard-Stokes, Gemma, Le Quesne, Lizzy and Moran, Joe 2009. Artist-led, artist-used: experiences at Coventry's Summer Dancing 2009. Journal of Dance & Somatic Practices. 1 (2), pp. 199-214. https://doi.org/10.1386/jdsp.1.2.199_1
Singing with children with special needs and strengths
Irons, Y. 2006. Singing with children with special needs and strengths. British Society of Music Therapy/Association of Professional Music Therapists annual conference.