Allison Seifert, Ph.D.
Central Connecticut State University

Presentation:
The Science and Application of Fitness in Dance

Brief Description:
This presentation will review the basic components of physical fitness and how its development positively impacts performance, injury risk, and support for a long and healthy career for dancers and performing artists.

Presenter Bio:
Allison is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Human Performance at Central Connecticut State University. Allison received her PhD in Exercise Physiology from Springfield College, a Master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning from University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from the College of Saint Benedict. Allison’s research interests are to gain a better understanding of the unique physiological demands of dance and the performing arts. The goal of her research is to improve testing and training methods for the development of fitness in dancers in order to enhance performance and reduce injury rates. Her most recent research has involved the development and validation of a functional capacity test for collegiate level dancers which can be used in the assessment of fitness as well as to direct supplemental training programs for dancers.

Allison’s background in dance began at the age of six and developed into sixteen years of training in styles including ballet, modern, and jazz. She has since studied dance and performed competitively in college, choreographed and taught classes for dance studios, and developed and implemented strength training and conditioning programs for high school and collegiate level dance programs.

Aviva Kornel, MFA
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance

Presentation:
An investigation into duende and its relationship to flow among professional Flamenco performers

Brief Description:
This presentation will discuss the findings of Aviva’s graduate research. It will look at how professional flamenco dancers and musicians define duende and make sense of the experience. It will also examine how duende enhances performance and its relationship to a flow state.  

Presenter Bio:
Aviva Chiara Kornel is a French American dancer, practitioner and scientist based in Paris, France. She grew up in San Francisco, CA studying Flamenco dance at the young age of six and performed regularly in the Bay Area with professional Flamenco companies. She danced with Trisha Brown company members and performed in choreographies by Dana Reitz and Souleymane Badolo during her four years at Bennington College, graduating with a BFA in 2016.  

Aviva moved to Brooklyn, NY for two years and actively studied Alexander Technique with practitioners Flora Ojanen and Caren Bayer. She eventually discovered dance science in her search to merge previous studies of dance and Alexander Technique. She then pursued a two-year MFA program at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, England from which she graduated with honors in 2021. Her second year Master’s thesis, supervised by Professor Emma Redding and Dr. Liliana Araujo, investigated the Flamenco-specific concept of duende, its effect on performance and possible relationship to flow.  

Aviva hopes to collaborate with choreographers to bridge the gap between scientific principle and creative practice.

Barry Parker, Ph.D. & Jessica Sansone, Ph.D.
Shenandoah University

Presentation:
The importance of a periodized strength and conditioning program for dancers

Brief Description:
In this talk, we will discuss the benefits of implementing a structured periodized strength and conditioning program in dancers. We will discuss current research and new data from our pilot study with collegiate dancers.

Presenter Bio:
Dr. Barry Parker earned his BFA in theatre from the University of Florida, and M.S. and Ph.D in Strength and Conditioning Exercise Physiology respectively from Springfield College. He has worked with athletes at the DI, DII, and DIII levels as well as performing artists. He is currently the Department Chair of Exercise Science, VA/DC State Director for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), and creator and Chair of the newly formed Performing Arts Special Interest Group with the NSCA.
 
Dr. Jessica Sansone earned her BS in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from Central Connecticut State University, and M.S. and Ph.D in Exercise Physiology respectively from Springfield College. She is a former Division I athlete and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Exercise Science at Shenandoah University. She is a member of the Office of Museum, History, and Archives of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). She is also a Certified Exercise Physiologist through the ACSM.

Peggy Gould, M.F.A.
Sarah Lawrence College

Presentation:
Utilizing Functional Anatomy Concepts in Dance Training: Observations, Inspirations & Notes from the Field

Brief Description:
The adage “knowledge is power” is potentially outmoded in its overly simple assertion and yet for dancing, it continues to hold some truth.  When dance artists are provided with specific structural and functional information about anatomy in the context of movement, there is often notable improvement in technical capability and expansion of aesthetic range.  This talk, intended for an audience of dancers, educators and scientists, provides an introduction including both anecdotal and practice-based examples.

Presenter Bio:
Peggy Gould is a dancer, choreographer, collaborator, movement educator and writer.  Since 1999, Peggy has served on the faculty at Sarah Lawrence College, teaching courses in the Dance Program including Anatomy, Anatomy Seminar (upper level study), First Year Studies in Dance, Beginning Improvisation, Dance Fundamentals, Contemporary Practice, Teaching Conference, Conditioning, graduate seminars in the studio (a laboratory employing aspects of functional anatomy and improvisation to explore the intersection of technical and aesthetic interests) and in the classroom (Critical Perspectives on Dance and Culture), and Dance Practice Conference (periodic small group conferences for students in the Dance Program.)  Peggy earned BFA & MFA degrees in Dance at NYU Tisch School of the Arts under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes, and subsequently trained with Aileen Crow to complete certification as a Teacher of Alexander Technique.  Since 1996, Peggy has served as assistant to renowned anatomist and dance educator Irene Dowd.  Peggy’s article, Dancing Toward Inclusion: Embedded Assumptions and Innovations in Functional Anatomy, was published in the premier issue of peer-reviewed Choros International Dance Journal (Spring 2012).  Peggy has worked with artists including Bill T. Jones, Patricia Hoffbauer, Sara Rudner, Cathy Weis, Joyce S. Lim, Tiffany Osedra Miller and Bryan Fox, and has created eleven original interdisciplinary works (1996-2018) most recently "Hypnagogia" presented by Dixon Place, NYC.  Peggy is currently a Fulbright Specialist in Dance/U.S. Studies, and recently spent six weeks in Ecuador (June-August, 2019), working with dancers and educators in Cuenca, Guayaquil and Quito.

A live panel discussion with all Dance Science Symposium 2021 presenters Allison Seifert, PhD, Aviva Kornel, MFA, Bary Parker, PhD & Jessica Sansone, PhD, and Peggy Gould, MFA, with discussant Aston K McCullough, PhD.

Discussant Bio:
Dr. Aston K. McCullough studies human activity in relation to health across the lifespan. He programs and evaluates methods for analyzing human activity and health-related signals within single and multi-person movement paradigms using sensors (e.g., accelerometers, 2D/3D cameras, EKG, and others). McCullough examines associations between wellness and dance exposures both quantitatively and qualitatively. His specific research areas include- movement & health, motion analysis, wearable sensors & 2D/3D camera systems, biometry, children & families, dance behavior.

McCullough is a contemporary/improvisational dancer and dance maker. He has performed in the United States and abroad (live and on film) for artists including conceptual experimental choreographer, Koosil-ja.

McCullough holds Ph.D. and M. Phil. degrees in Kinesiology from Columbia University; an M.S. in Applied Statistics from Columbia University Teachers College; an M.A. in Dance Education from New York University; a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Sarah Lawrence College; a Professional Diploma in Dance Studies from Laban Dance Conservatoire. He completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Kinesiology at UMass Amherst in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences.