News

Trinity Laban is delighted to announce the appointment of Sonia Rafferty as Programme Leader for the new undergraduate degree in Dance Science.

Having offered the world’s first Masters degree in Dance Science in 2001, London’s Creative Conservatoire is an established pioneer in the rapidly expanding field of Dance Science. Building on this expertise, we now offer an exciting BSc programme which will be led by dance artist, researcher and educator Sonia Rafferty.

With over thirty years’ experience in the dance profession, Sonia has been a member of the Faculty of Dance at Trinity Laban since 1991 and has contributed to many different programmes in a diverse range of roles, combining her technical expertise, performance and choreographic experience and her dance wellness research.

Co-author of seminal text Safe Dance Practice: An applied dance science perspective, Sonia co-founded the organisation Safe in Dance International (SiDI) in 2013, with the aim of raising awareness of safe and healthy dance practice and to support dance practitioners worldwide.

Sonia (pictured below) is also an established and highly respected dance technique teacher and has regularly delivered workshops, masterclasses and company class in the UK and internationally, working with high-profile companies including BalletBoyz, Candoco Dance Company, and Siobhan Davies Dance. She has choreographed for her own company, Blueprint Dance Company, and co-directs Double Vision Dance Company with Amanda Gough, working on several large-scale site-specific community commissions.

Sonia completed her dance training at the Laban Centre, gaining a BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre in 1983, becoming a founding member of Transitions Dance Company in 1984. In 2004, she was part of the first cohort for Trinity Laban’s MSc Dance Science, graduating with Distinction.

 

Sonia took up her new post as Programme Leader this July. On her appointment she comments –

“This new BSc adds to the innovative and forward thinking training programmes offered by Trinity Laban. Dancers who are interested, like myself, in understanding more about the way the body and mind are honed in readiness to dance, will enjoy investigating and applying new ways of appreciating the dancing body. Graduates will take their comprehensive knowledge forward as informed practitioners and contribute to the future development of dance training and participation. I’m excited to be part of this new venture and look forward to collaborating with our first pioneering cohort!”

Head of Dance Science Professor Emma Redding comments –

“I’m delighted that Sonia will be joining the Dance Science team at Trinity Laban to lead our new three-year BSc programme. A respected author who is highly regarded within the international field of dance science, Sonia brings an extensive knowledge of safe dance practice, alongside professional performance and choreographic experience at the highest level.”

The new undergraduate programme in Dance Science will enable students to build on their passion for dance by enhancing their technique and creative skills whilst also developing a deeper understanding of how the body works, how movement is learned and how to support people participating in dance.

Situated within the dynamic artistic community of a conservatoire, students will study areas such as biomechanics, exercise physiology, performance psychology, fitness and wellbeing. The course is taught by leading research-active academics and practitioners and will equip graduates with the skills and knowledge to be able to work in a range of roles within dance and within the health and fitness industries, or to progress to further study.

Learn more about studying Dance Science at Trinity Laban by visiting our pages.