Sutton Anker (Mid West USA & Online)

Sutton Anker (Mid West USA & Online)

Sutton’s personal and academic interest in pedagogy and advocacy for safe dance practice is what drew her to be a part of Safe in Dance International (SiDI) team. She was an intern with SiDI throughout her masters program and in 2016 completed the Healthy Dance Practice certificate. Sutton is now a Safe in Dance International Registered Provider and is eager to begin teaching safe dance practice to dancers, teachers, and parents throughout the U.S. Sutton is currently programme manager for the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science.

Sutton has a strong passion for teaching: technique, dance science and wellness, and creative movement classes for all ages and abilities. Her dance science specific interests range from pedagogical methods and their effects on learning and performance to overall dancer wellness. 

Sutton’s interest in dance medicine and science began at the University of Wyoming where she earned her B.F.A. in Dance. Throughout her time at Wyoming, Sutton participated in and co-coordinated various dance science research projects, while also spending time on the stage both during her four years and post-graduation. Her performance resume includes The Nutcracker, Power/Fulland Duetfrom the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Cinderella: From the Ashes a ballet, and various other ballet, contemporary, modern, and vertical dance pieces.  In 2015, Sutton graduated with her Masters of Science in Dance Science from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London, U.K. In the course of her Master’s program, Sutton worked in Trinity Laban’s Learning and Participation Program teaching both children’s classes and a creative movement class for individuals with brain injuries, and co-directed HeadStart, a research study on the effects of creative movement class on children’s resilience. Post her thesis submission Sutton co-organized the 2015 Foundations for Excellence conference at Trinity Laban.

As a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS), Sutton presented her senior capstone project, Effect of Mirrors on Dancers’ Ability to Learn Movement at the 2013 Seattle, WA conference. She presented her Master’s thesis, An Investigation of Pedagogical Rationales for Current Mirror Use in a Ballet Technique Class at the 2016 IADMS conference in Hong Kong. Sutton is still continuing research in the mirror as a potential tool for dancers in their training. As an advocate for student voices and participation in the organization, Sutton also served on the IADMS student committee from October 2016 to October 2018.

Sutton currently lives in her home state of Colorado where she advocates, educates, and participates in dance as an artist, teacher, trainer, and dance scientist. She is currently training for her BASI Pilates Comprehensive Teaching Certificate.

Additionally, Sutton is an Education and Rehabilitation Associate with Denver Dance Medicine Associates and a member of the National Dance Education Organization. She volunteers for Presenting Denver, a non-profit that supports and exposes dance in the Denver, CO community.

Email: suttonanker@gmail.com

http://suttonanker.weebly.com