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Coverage: Performing Arts Medicine Association (PAMA) Symposium 2017

November 11, 2017 by 4dancers

Performing Arts Medicine Association Symposium, Poster Presentation

by Catherine L. Tully

Each type of conference has it’s own unique atmosphere, and each has it’s own sense of purpose and direction. The Performing Arts Medicine Association‘s 2017 Symposium is no exception, and since this was our first time attending, we’d like to give an overall picture of what this gathering is like, and who typically attends. This way, if you aren’t already familiar with the organization, you’ll get a better picture of what they are all about.

Let’s begin with a basic overview of the organization, and it’s mission statement.

What Is PAMA?

Founded in 1989, the Performing Arts Medicine Association, also known as PAMA, is an organization made up of educators, artists, medical professionals, and administrators that share a common goal – improving the healthcare of the performing artist. Unlike the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS), PAMA is not just dedicated to the art of dance, but rather includes all performing artists – such as musicians, dancers, and actors.

Originally founded as an organization for medical professionals, membership expanded over the years to include others who were becoming more and more interested in the health and well-being of this sector of the arts. Approximately 20% of the organization is currently from outside of the US. PAMA holds a yearly symposium as a gathering place for members and others that serves to share information about the field, provide networking opportunities, and more.

PAMA’s mission is stated as follows:

The Performing Arts Medicine Association is committed to:

  • Promoting the highest quality of care to all performing artists and bringing to that care an appreciation of the special needs of performing artists.
  • Developing educational programs designed to enhance the understanding and prevention of medical problems related to the performing arts.
  • Promoting communication among all those involved in the health care and well being of performing artists.
  • Fostering research into the etiology, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of medical problems of performing artists.

The Symposium

PAMA Symposium
Registration desk at the Westin in Snowmass – PAMA Symposium, 2017

This year the symposium took place in Snowmass – a lovely setting up in the mountains of Colorado. The Westin provided a home base for the event, as well as space for the sessions that took place throughout. For those interested in dance/dancers, there were a number of different presentations to choose from.

Westin Snowmass
The Westin, Snowmass, CO

Here are some examples:

  • Investigation of the Cardiovascular Endurance of Dance Majors
  • Risk for Hearing Loss due to Noise Exposure in Competition Dancers
  • The First Step: Creating a Dancer Wellness Program That Will Engage and Empower
  • Gaze Behaviour in Dance – the Relevance of Spotting in Pirouettes
  • Injury Prevention and Optimal Performance Training in Dancers

This should give you an idea of the types of presentations there are for people who are invested in the care of dancers and their bodies. There were also poster presentations, and informal gatherings during the course of the symposium.

As with most conferences, the chance to network and make new associations during the span of the event is an important facet when it comes to attending. We connected with a wide range of people during our time there, including authors, medical practitioners, a clinical and performance psychologist, and people from all over the world with an interest in dancer health and wellness. There is no doubt that these people are passionate about the work they do, and it’s wonderful to have some space created for them to come together like this and share what they are working on, and what they have learned with one another.

PAMA poster presentation
Poster Presentation at PAMA

It is our hope that with the growth of the dance wellness section of this site, we will be able to continue sharing information about conferences and symposiums such as PAMA (and others), and that our outreach will help create more pathways for dancers and dance teachers to connect with the important information and research that is taking place all over the world.

Those interested in attending the 36th Annual PAMA International Symposium can view more information about the gathering in Orange, CA here. It takes place from June 30th to July 3rd.

Learn more about PAMA membership levels and benefits on their website.


Disclosure: This author is the editor/owner of 4dancers. She attended the PAMA Symposium on a press pass granted by the organization, but no monetary compensation was received for her coverage of the event. All transportation, lodging, and meals were paid for by 4dancers.

Filed Under: Dance Conferences Tagged With: CO, dance conferences, dance medicine, dance medicine and science, dance wellness, dancer health, iadms, pama, Performing Arts Medicine Association, Snowmass, Westin

Coverage: Dance/USA Conference 2017

October 4, 2017 by 4dancers

Dance USA, Kansas City
Dance/USA – Setup for the Opening Night Celebration at Union Station, Kansas City

by Catherine L. Tully

Each year dance professionals from all over the US (and beyond) gather to talk about subjects that are central to the field, and this year approximately 500 of them met up in Kansas City for Dance/USA’s 9th annual conference – and 35th anniversary. Held from June 7th to June 10th, this group came together to network, train, discuss issues, bond with one another, and watch dance.

Union Station KC Dance/USA
Dance/USA Opening Night

If you are not familiar with Dance/USA, they are a service organization that works to sustain and advance the world of professional dance at all levels – from executive directors and arts leaders, to working artists – and everyone in-between. The conference provides a forum for those involved in this arena to share best practices, talk about current events and attitudes, and examine and explore solutions to problems, as well as discuss new horizons in the field.

Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Kansas City
The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

Kansas City provided a lovely backdrop for this year’s conference, and it’s always amazing to get an up-close look at another city’s arts scene. With events taking place at venues such as the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Union Station, and the National World War I Museum, there was certainly plenty to see. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Dance Conferences Tagged With: dance conferences, Dance/USA, Dance/USA 2017, kansas city ballet, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, National World War I Museum and Memorial

The Dance USA Conference — Austin, TX, 2016

August 8, 2016 by 4dancers

Dance USA Conference 2016, Ballet Austin
Dance USA Conference 2016, Ballet Austin

by Catherine L. Tully

June 8-11 marked the 8th Annual Dance USA Conference, and this year it was held in Austin, TX. As in prior years, people came from all over to converse, network, enrich their knowledge base, and discuss the current state of our field. Nearly 500 dance professionals joined together, taking some time to both create new bonds and strengthen existing ones. This conference provides a much-needed “time-out” where space is set aside to concentrate on the big picture instead of the day-to-day tasks that consume so much of our time.

Dance USA Executive Amy Fitterer addresses attendees
Dance USA Executive Amy Fitterer addresses attendees

Representatives from the dance community gathered for a wide range of sessions. First timers and long-standing attendees mingled and shared perspectives on the topics presented. Conferences have a way of transcending barriers, and this one was no exception. As a matter-of-fact, Executive Director Amy Fitterer made an announcement that came as a (pleasant) surprise to many about the National Company Roster (NCR) – summarized nicely on the Dance USA website: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Dance Conferences Tagged With: catherine tully, dance bloggers, dance conference, dance conferences, dance in austin, dance in texas, dance networking, dance usa, dance usa austin, dance usa conference 2016, lauren Warnecke, nichelle suzanne

Dance Medicine: IADMS 25th Annual Meeting

October 24, 2015 by 4dancers

IMG_1212by Catherine L. Tully

The International Association for Dance Medicine and Science held their 25th annual meeting in October at the Marriott City Center in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. Starting off with a day for teachers, the gathering spanned a four-day period that offered networking opportunities, information-sharing, and an overall sense of purpose that was clear and heartfelt.

As a first-time attendee, I thought I’d share some thoughts on the meeting with those who may be interested, and those who might want to consider going in the future. After all, next year’s meeting is in Hong Kong, which would make a lovely trip!

I have to say that I really enjoyed my time with this unique group of professionals, and felt the experience was definitely worthwhile. As most of you are already aware, I’m very passionate about the topic of dance wellness, and I’d love nothing more than to see IADMS continue to grow and connect with dancers and dance teachers everywhere.

So…here are some thoughts on the experience from my perspective, along with a few photos that should give a little context to my narrative.

IMG_1205Networking

Without question the single largest benefit to attending this meeting is the networking. The IADMS gathering brings professionals together from all over the world, giving them a chance to compare notes, talk dance medicine, and, perhaps most importantly, get to know one another.

Even with the magic of connecting via the web, there is just no substitute for face-to-face interaction. To that end, I enjoyed having the chance to meet the members of our own Dance Wellness Panel in person for the first time, and I couldn’t have been more pleased with the planning time we had to solidify topics we’ll share with readers throughout the year (stay tuned!).

Although IADMS is smaller gathering of professionals than conferences such as Dance USA and the Dance Teacher Summit, it actually works to the advantage of the organization in this case. It simply felt much easier to connect with people here. Faces became familiar after a day or two, and because of that, it made approaching people less intimidating–even for a somewhat introverted person, such as myself.

IMG_1166Several events were incorporated into the meeting’s overall framework that allowed participants the chance to just relax and mingle a bit. Among these were the welcome reception Friday evening, and the “dance party” on Saturday night.

Information

The information presented at the IADMS meeting fell into three primary formats: lectures, movement sessions, and poster presentations. There were also a number of tables on-hand from various supporters and exhibitors. To try and summarize everything offered is quite an impossibility, so an overview of the main categories is offered here instead…each with a few examples…

IMG_1152Lectures

Throughout the event there were numerous lectures available for attendees to take in — from “Nutritional concerns in vegetarian and vegan dancers“ to “The science of motor learning: creating a model for dance training” to “Anterior hip pain in a dancer – an alternative diagnosis.”

Injury prevention/treatment, teaching strategies, metabolism, and dancer fitness were just some of the topics addressed by professionals from the podium. Lecture sessions were typically brief and specific, with accompanying slides. Following each lecture there was an opportunity for questions/comments.

Poster Presentations

IMG_1161Poster presentations offered another approach in terms of information sharing and engagement. Posters were displayed in a room where attendees could peruse them and discuss ideas with one another at a leisurely pace. These sessions were lively, and many people took advantage of the opportunity to join in the conversation.

There were two poster presentation slots during the span of the meeting, and a wide range of topics were covered, such as, “Differences in sway area observed in ballerinas en demi pointe and en pointe,” “Can textured insoles improve ankle proprioception and performance in dancers?” and “Building a safe environment for private dance sectors: a business model to provide healthcare for dancers.”

 

Movement sessions

IMG_1139In addition to the posters and lectures, the IADMS meeting also provides numerous “movement sessions” where participants have the chance to explore thoughts and ideas in a more “hands-on,” active environment.

Some of the movement sessions included: “Using technology for movement analysis in the dance studio,” “Incorporating conditioning into a modern dance technique class,” and “Gaga, Ohad Naharin’s movement language,” among many others.

Unlike the lecture sessions which are generally rather short in length, the movement sessions typically run about 50 minutes, giving attendees the chance to dig in a bit and try some things out for themselves.

 

Camaraderie

IMG_1221In my time at the meeting I met a wide range of educators, students and dance medicine professionals — from seasoned, founding members of the field — to brand new faces just joining the ranks after graduation.

It was wonderful to see such a large span of ages and experience levels in attendance, and exciting to think about the possibilities that bringing this group of people together offers to the dance community throughout the world.

For more information on IADMS, please visit their website, and be sure to keep an eye on their blog. Those hoping to attend the 26th annual meeting in Hong Kong can keep an eye out for details on the site, and membership information is there as well.


Disclosure: 4dancers attended the 25th annual meeting on a press pass granted by IADMS, but no monetary compensation was received for coverage of the event. All transportation, lodging, and meals were paid for by 4dancers.

Filed Under: Dance Conferences, Dance Wellness Tagged With: dance conferences, dance medicine, dance science, dance teacher summit, dance usa, dance wellness, dance wellness panel, iadms, iadms 25th annual meeting, international association for dance medicine and science

10 Tips For Navigating The Dance Conference

January 5, 2015 by 4dancers

magnetic-compass-390912_1280

by Catherine L. Tully

Whether you are attending your first dance conference ever–or your twentieth, there are certain things you can do to help maximize the time you spend there. We have assembled a list of ten that we think are pretty important, but we’re also pretty sure that readers will have more to add…

Feel free to leave a comment for us on anything you have found to be useful. We’d love to hear from you! In the meantime, take a look at these as you begin to map out your schedule for the coming year…

Create your own plan

No matter what the dance conference is you are attending, there is a reason why you are going to that particular one. Keep your goals in mind when you are planning what sessions you are going to attend. And don’t feel like you have to do it all!

Take a good look at the sessions that are offered on the web and map out a plan for what you’d like to see/experience. Customize your schedule so that you can get the most out of the time you spend there. Having a plan is half the battle.

Try to stay flexible. Keep in mind that once you get to the conference you may need to alter your schedule depending on what comes up.

visit-card-386254_640Utilize the business card

Business cards aren’t used that often anymore, but conferences are the perfect place for them. Bring a big stack of cards with you and pass them out whenever you can. Make sure your social media information is on them (if applicable) as well as your contact info.

As you get cards from other people, jot down any information you can that will help you remember who that person is and why you might want to follow up with them. It will be really hard to remember these things later—especially after meeting lots of people and getting lots of cards.

Plan some meetings ahead of time

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Dance Conferences Tagged With: dance conference, dance conferences, dance teacher life conference, dance teacher summit, dance usa, finding dance conferences, international association for dance medicine and science, NDEO, networking, shape america national convention and expo, tips for dance conferences

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