Department Staff

Catherine Haber

Programme Leader, MSc/MFA Dance Science

Catherine Haber is a dancer and dance science researcher from Los Angeles, California. She is Programme Leader for MSc/MFA Dance Science, a Lecturer in Dance Science and the Module Leader of Research Lab in the MSc/MFS Dance Science programme. Catherine graduated magna cum laude from Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City, with Bachelors in both Dance and Physics. During her undergraduate studies, she studied abroad at the dance conservatory in the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne, Australia. After finishing her Bachelors, Catherine moved to Switzerland to pursue a combination of her passions of dance and science. At the Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern, Catherine completed both a Master of Science in Sport Science Research and a Master of Advanced Studies in Dance Science summa cum laude.

Sonia Rafferty

Programme Leader BSc Dance Science

Sonia has been a member of the Dance Faculty at Trinity Laban since 1991, contributing to many of the different programmes in a diverse range of roles. She trained at the Laban Centre, gaining a BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre, before becoming a member of the first cohort of the Advanced Performance Course, Transitions Dance Company. In 2004, she was also one of the first cohort of the MSc Dance Science at Trinity Laban, graduating with Distinction.

Professor Emma Redding MBE

Visiting Professor

Professor Emma Redding MBE originally trained as a dancer and was Head of Dance Science at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance until 2022. Professor Emma Redding is currently the Director of the Victorian College of the Arts and a visiting professor at Trinity Laban.

She wrote the first master’s degree in Dance Science and has since played a key role in developing dance science as a recognised field of study through her research and teaching internationally, as a founding partner of the National Institute for Dance Medicine and Science and as member of the Board of Directors and Past President of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.

Scott Sinclair

Dance Science Laboratory Technician / Dance Science Lecturer

Scott has over 5 years-experience working within the Dance Science department as both Laboratory Technician and Physiology lecturer on both postgraduate and undergraduate degrees. He completed his degrees within the realms of Exercise Physiology but has been able to apply his knowledge to the field of dance through teaching, supervising research projects and screening dancers at Trinity Laban and others (Freelancers, Professionals etc). Scott’s current interests within the field are primarily around menstrual function and nutrition and how these factors play a role in the context of health and performance for a dancer.

Dr James Brouner

Lecturer in Biomechanics

James is an experienced Senior Lecturer with a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry. James works for Kingston University as the course director for the Sport Science BSc (Hons) programme. He has been at Laban since 2014 teaching biomechanical and movement analysis. James delivers lectures on the MSc Dance Science programme and has supervised a number of MSc projects across biomechanics for performance enhancement and injury prevention. He has presented work at both IADMS and PAMA.

Khyle Eccles

Lecturer in Dance Science

Khyle Eccles is a movement, dance and performance specialist with a varied portfolio career – and is one of very few dance specific strength and conditioning specialists in the UK. Khyle received his BA(Hons) at Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance, and his MSc Dance Science at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

Michael Doolan

Graduate Intern in Dance Science and Health

Michael Doolan is a dancer, dance teacher, strength and conditioning coach and dance science lecturer. Michael graduated with a BA (Hons) in Classical Ballet and Dance Performance in 2011 and with an MFA in Dance Science in 2021 from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Michael’s research focused on the change in relative energy demand and movement quality during high intensity contemporary dance.

Jasmine Challis

Lecturer in Nutrition

Jasmine has an Honours Degree in Nutrition and a Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics from the University of London. She has qualifications in teaching young people and adults and has undertaken training in group work and increasing motivation. She is registered as a dietitian with the Health Care Professions Council. Jasmine is an Accredited Nutritionist (Association for Nutrition) and is a High Performance registrant on the Sport and Exercise Nutrition  register (SENr). She has a particular interest in dance but has worked with athletes from a variety of backgrounds. She has worked with dance students, teachers and  professionals for more than 25 years.

Zerlina Mastin

Lecturer in Nutrition

Zerlina has a BSc in Nutrition & Dietetics (KCL), an MSc in Public Health Nutrition (LSHTM) and an honours degree from the Royal Academy of Dance. Based in London, Zerlina works as a Registered Dietitian, specialising in Dance. In 2009, she wrote Nutrition for the Dancer, published by Dance Books Ltd, and went on to coach student and professional dancers on healthy eating for optimal performance. Working alongside One Dance UK, Zerlina is also actively involved in the Healthier Dancer Program working under the education program of the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science (NIDMS).

Leanne Steel

Lecturer in Dance Science

Leanne graduated from the MSc Dance Science programme at Trinity Laban in 2018. During her studies she investigated relationships between hypermobility and proprioception among adolescent dancers’ as part of her thesis project. Before studying her master’s degree, Leanne completed a BA in Dance Performance at Middlesex University where her passion for dance science began through learning dance science modules and writing a dance science dissertation exploring the wellbeing of dancers with scoliosis.

Anna Williams

Health Clinic Administrator

Anna originally trained as a dancer and graduated in 2013 from Middlesex University, with a BA (Hons) in Dance Performance. Anna then completed the MSc Dance Science at Trinity Laban graduating in 2016. Her research focused on hypermobility and injury relationships in contemporary dance students.  Upon graduating from the MSc, Anna was then employed at Trinity Laban as Graduate Intern for Dance Science; responsibilities included co-delivering MSc Lab Skills, administering the Musculoskeletal and Fitness screenings, providing administrative support to the programme, organising events and delivering external workshops at several universities in the UK. In 2018, Anna began her role in the Health department at Trinity Laban; managing the on-site treatment clinic and coordinating supplementary conditioning activities for students.

Alyssa Pardoe

Graduate Intern in Dance Science and Health

Alyssa is one of the Graduate Interns for the Dance Science and Health departments and is currently pursuing an MFA in Dance Science at Trinity Laban. Her research is focused on looking at instrument assisted soft tissue mobilisation and delayed onset muscle soreness in dancers. Prior to Trinity Laban, Alyssa completed a BS in Exercise Science at Towson University in the United States, graduating with summa cum laude honors. It was her undergraduate studies – when she was able to explore research in the dance medicine and science field and also make connections with organisations such as IADMS (International Association for Dance Medicine & Science) – that ultimately led Alyssa to Trinity Laban.

Natasha Goldstein-Opasiak

Natasha joins us from The Royal Ballet Company and London Contemporary Dance School, where she has been working as a Soft Tissue Therapist and Lecturer in Wellness since 2019. It was during her BA (Hons) in Dance, that Natasha was initially introduced to massage and it has remained the constant in her life. It has allowed her to continue to explore movement, develop strength and transfer her knowledge of anatomy and bio-mechanics when helping to assist in providing the best possible practice treatment to students.

Natasha recently completed a MA Professional Practice in Somatic Studies from Middlesex University. She aims to help students learn more about their own pro-prioception and delve deeper into understanding their own anatomy along with the natural rhythms of the body. Her research focuses on the importance of implementing somatic practices into vocational dance training and this continues to inform her work both in and out of the studio today.