Dance and Academia – Moving the Boundaries is an Oxford-based interdisciplinary project set up and run by Miranda Laurence. Wanting to bring together the rich resources of academia and of dance present in Oxford, Miranda organised a seminar series, ‘(Re)Moving the Boundaries’ in 2008, and in 2009 a day-long conference, ‘Moving the Boundaries – The Body’. Both these were programmed in the Dancin’ Oxford Festival 08/09 respectively.
During 2010, three seminars were held focusing on specific aspects of dance, one of which linked into a week-long project which explored the relationship between dance improvisation and drawing. The other two seminars were ‘Contemporary Interpretations of the Classical’, and the other entitled ‘Movement, Touch, Emotion’ with talks from two visual artists who work with movement and touch. Interest in all of the events has been high, with attendance averaging between 15 and 25, ranging from academics based at universities, to professional dance practitioners, and other professionals with an interest in dance. The latest events have seen increased interest from beyond Oxford, particularly through linking with existing dance academics and research projects such as Watching Dance.
‘Dance in Body, Dance in Mind’ was the programme delivered as part of Dancin’ Oxford 2011 and included three evening seminars and a day-long conference, addressing a range of themes, including a concentration on dance and disability. The seminars and conference presented a mixture of ‘traditional’ conference papers and more practical workshops, and for the first time speakers were recruited through a call for papers. There were responses from across the spectrum of academia and practice, coming from across the UK and internationally.
Dance and Academia’s latest conference event is taking place as part of the Dancin’ Oxford 2012 festival, and is a one-day symposium on 24th March 2012 entitled ‘Space to Dance – Exploring Movement, Site and Surroundings’.
This event brings together dance practitioners, academics and professionals from different fields to gain an insight into movement in, through and around space. The day will contain a practical workshop as well as papers, time for discussion and a unique opportunity to explore the spaces around us both physically and mentally…
For booking details and more information please visit www.dancinoxford.co.uk.
