Over 500 delegates are to attend a dance medicine and science conference at University of Limerick later this month.
UL’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance will host the 32nd International Conference for the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) from October 28-31.
IADMS is an inclusive global network of professionals who care for those who dance by evolving best practices in dance science, education, research, and medical care to support optimal health, well-being, training, and performance.
This conference will be IADMS’ first hybrid event, allowing thought leaders worldwide to attend both in-person and virtually. It is being supported by the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and the host committee is co-chaired by Dr Orfhlaith Ni Bhriain of the Irish World Academy and Dr Roisin Cahalan of UL’s School of Allied Health.
The conference will include a mayoral reception at Limerick City Hall on October 27 and this will be followed by the Official Opening of the conference on October 28.
The highlight of the conference will be a special concert on October 29 at 8pm in the University Concert Hall. The DAMHSA concert will feature Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre, Limerick Youth Dance Company, Scoil Ui Ruairc, students and staff of the Irish World Academy, and the Award winning ÉIRÚ Dance Company.
The performance by ÉIRÚ, a contemporary Irish dance company, is supported by the UL 50 programme.
“IADMS is thrilled to host our 32nd Annual Conference in Limerick and we cannot express our gratitude enough to the University of Limerick and the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, as well as the Shannon Region and Fáilte Ireland tourism bureaus, who have provided outstanding support for our staff, our leadership, and our attendees,” said Nancy Kadel, MD, IADMS President, and Leigh Ponniah, MA, MSc, Acting Executive Director.
“At present, we have over 560 attendees, from 32 counties registered. It is really exciting to be hosting our multidisciplinary conference at a venue that also appreciates the intersection of arts and medicine, and we look forward to sharing this common interest and the wonderful Irish culture with our international attendees.”
Director of the Irish World Academy, Professor Helen Phelan said: “The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance is honoured and excited to be hosting this important conference. Bringing practitioners and scholars together is a core aspect of our vision. Having this incredible gathering of dancers, medical professionals, researchers and educators here is a testimony to the flourishing of dance and health research in the Academy and across the University”.
Dr Sandra Joyce, Interim Executive Dean of UL’s Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, said: “The IADMS conference is highly significant to the University of Limerick for many reasons, not least because of the fact that interdisciplinarity is at its heart, but also because of the importance of research in dance, medicine, health sciences and education on this campus.
“We are so delighted to work with our colleagues internationally on bringing this impactful event to Limerick. I want to pay special tribute to the organising team who have consistently worked hard to make this happen, and look forward to a productive and stimulating conference, which enables us to showcase the variety and quality of dance forms at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance.”
For more, see www.iadms.org or www.irishworldacademy.