Oxford Handbook of Dance and Wellbeing

In recent years, a growth in dance and wellbeing scholarship has resulted in new ways of thinking that place the body, movement, and dance in a central place with renewed significance for wellbeing. The Oxford Handbook of Dance and Wellbeing examines dance and related movement practices from the perspectives of neuroscience and health, community and education, and psychology and sociology to contribute towards an understanding of wellbeing, offer new insights into existing practices, and create a space where sufficient exchange is enabled. The handbook’s research components include quantitative, qualitative, and arts-based research, covering diverse discourses, methodologies, and perspectives that add to the development of a complete picture of the topic. Throughout the handbook’s wide-ranging chapters, the objective observations, felt experiences, and artistic explorations of practitioners interact with and are printed alongside academic chapters to establish an egalitarian and impactful exchange of ideas.

Vicky Karkou holds the Chair of Dance, Arts and Wellbeing at Edge Hill University. A qualified dance teacher, researcher and dance movement psychotherapist, she has lengthy experience of working with diverse clinical populations in different settings. She is widely published in peer-reviewed journals and books, and acts as the co-editor of the international journal Body, Movement and Dance in Psychotherapy published by Taylor and Francis. She travels extensively around the world for research and teaching purposes.

Sue Oliver is a freelance dance tutor and researcher. Based in Scotland, she left her post as senior teacher and dance tutor for her local education authority to concentrate on her research in creative dance and wellbeing, focusing on children, adolescents, and latterly older adults, including seated movement to music in day care settings. Current projects include dance with sufferers of Parkinson’s Disease and community-based choreographic projects.

Sophia Lycouris is an academic interested in interdisciplinary research methodologies and research by creative practice. She is also an artist working with movement/dance, choreography, improvisation, performance and new technologies since the late 90s. Her work involves processes of ＂listening＂ to spaces and designing subtle movement interventions, which trigger affective transformations. Her academic projects on movement and new technologies have been funded by research councils and her artistic work has been presented in the UK, Europe, and USA.