Dance, Digital Software Design and Inclusive Practice

The Disruptive Media Learning Lab (DMLL), a innovative teaching, learning and study space, is a cross-university experimental unit comprising of academics, learning technologists, subject librarians, educational developers and researchers. The Lab is based in the heart of Coventry University’s campus on the top floor of the Frederick Lanchester Library, uniquely designed to promote open dialogues, collaborative work and exploratory play for all interested in defining the 21st century university.

Disruptive Media Learning Lab

A Talk By Tamara Ashley
In this talk, Ashley will offer perspectives on the design of a choreographic software application for the iPad.  The project sought to develop an approach to software design that engaged with principles of inclusion and accessibility for both disabled and non-disabled users.  First person perspectives, integral to somatic movement practice, became very important to the process of developing the app and in testing it with client populations. Ashley will discuss how the team worked through arising questions and issues to arrive at some principles and imperatives for inclusive software design in dance activities.  She will also discuss the context of the collaboration between software partner, Moviestorm, arts organisation, dancedigital, and research partner, the University of Bedfordshire.
This talk will be followed by a brainstorming session with <A HREF="http://dmll.org.uk/collaborators/emma-meehan/" TARGET="_self" TITLE="Emma Meehan" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Emma Meehan</A> (Centre for Dance Research) on how dance can be translated into an app format which could be used by third level students to gain the benefits of somatic practices in relation to health and wellbeing.
 
Tamara Ashley
My research focuses upon how dance practice intersects evolving paradigms of post-humanism in technological complex and ecologically fragile environments. I have presented papers on ethics and care in environmental dance practices, as well proposing a paradigm for post-human somatic practices. My work has been supported by Arts Council England and has been published in several academic dance journals. I am interested in the application of critical pedagogy, feminist practice and somatics to dance practice. I was able to apply this knowledge in the project to develop a choreographic app for the iPad, for both disabled and non-disabled users. I am currently a senior lecturer in dance at the University of Bedfordshire, where I lead the MA Dance Performance and Choreography programme, and a senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy.  From 2010-2015, I served as the artistic director of dancedigital.  
 
Emma Meehan
Dr. Emma Meehan is a Research Fellow at Coventry University’s Centre for Dance Research. She received her BA and PhD from the Drama Department, Trinity College, Dublin. Her doctoral thesis focused on how wellbeing and creativity combined in the work of Irish choreographer Joan Davis who works with somatic approaches Authentic Movement and Body Mind Centering. Emma is an associate editor for Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices, and co-convenor of the Performance as Research Working Group at the International Federation for Theatre Research.
 
<A HREF="http://dmll.org.uk/projects/somaticapp/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Click here to read more about the Somaticapp Project</A>
 
 
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Note: Lunch will be provided.

The Teaching Room, Disruptive Media Learning Lab

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