Development of a dance assessment program, for students, administered by students

Wilson, Margaret MS, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, United States; and Deckert, Jennifer MFA, University of Wyoming , Laramie, WY, United States

The project involves administration of an assessment program, for students as they enter a University Dance program, administered by students currently in the program.  Junior and senior dance students were trained to administer a general screening and prescribe exercises for freshmen and sophomore dancers.  This study was approved by a human subjects committee.

The project includes three phases: Screening, exercise prescription, and re-screening. The screening in phase one was created to identify any conditions or habits which might cause injury or limit potential.  In addition, the screening will help the dancer understand his or her strengths and weaknesses. This measurement serves as a gateway assessment only.  If further assessment is needed, faculty members will follow up on the assessment protocol.  In the second phase, following consultation with the primary researchers, the older students will prescribe exercises to the younger students to remediate weaknesses or imbalances in muscular strength and to prevent injury.  The screening will be repeated at the end of the semester and will constitute the third phase.

The relevance of this study supports a national initiative to include practical screening instruments into dance departments.  Training the older students to administer the screening tool and help the younger dancer undertake, and maintain compliance with exercises, is a unique and vital component of this project.  This unique approach, project outline, and the results of the screening and the efficacy of the program will be presented at the conference in order to provide insight into alternative screening procedures. This protocol supports IADMS' mission of promoting effective and healthy approaches to training, treating, and educating dancers. 

The researchers have combined their experience in kinesiology and dance education to design the screening tool.  In addition the researchers bring their expertise to training the student dancers to administer the screen and oversee exercise prescription.