International Advisory Group

SiDI’s international advisory group serves several functions. We call on their advice and expertise in a range of areas, most importantly when we are researching new initiatives or looking at new markets. They work with us to ensure that everything that we do is current and is best practice. Many of our advisors are also linked to our partner organisations and as such can also ensure that we all move forward united in our aim to improve the health and wellbeing of dancers worldwide.

We are extremely grateful to all our advisors for the time and expertise that they give to Safe in Dance international. We are honoured that they have agreed to sit on our Advisory Group.

Zahra Carpenter

Zahra holds a BFA in Modern Dance/Dance Education from the University of the Arts and an MFA in Dance Science from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She is a dedicated dance educator who advocates holistic growth and diversity in dance. Zahra leverages innovative teaching methods to inspire learners and believes in the transformative power of dance, promoting peace, creativity and mental health.

As a Gyrotonic Instructor and BASI Pilates Teacher Certification candidate, she emphasises movement as a healer. Zahra is also an IADMS Board Member and Safe in Dance International provider candidate, fostering resilience and cultural sensitivity to ensure a safe and inclusive learning environment. She is committed to creating spaces where all dancers, especially those often unseen, can thrive and engage with their communities through critical thinking and public speaking.

Andrea Downie MA

Andrea is a SSHRC scholar, researcher, dance educator and choreographer with 30 years of experience. She works across Canada and internationally enthusiastically sharing her passion for dance with new and experienced teachers and dancers of all ages, levels and abilities. No matter where and what she is facilitating, her approach is founded on equity-informed and evidence-based principles and practice.

Andrea is a PhD Candidate in Kinesiology at University of Calgary where her research explores the influence and ethical integration of dance science and somatic movement perspectives in dance pedagogy, embodied dance learning and dancer wellness curricula. Her master’s research at York University focused on motor learning and ways dance leaders can use multisensory methods to enhance dance skill learning.

Andrea is a sessional instructor in both Dance and Kinesiology at University of Calgary, where she teaches dance technique, dance pedagogy, dance science, dance and health promotion and complementary training for dance courses. She is a founding member and Past President of Healthy Dancer Canada, the Founding Director of Enhance Dance, a Registered Provider and assessor with Safe in Dance International and a CPD course provider for Royal Academy of Dance Canada.

Andrea is also a Conditioning-with-Imagery (C-I) Training^TM master teacher, the instructor of the Level 1 C-I Training^TM teacher certification courses and a certified teacher of Simonson Technique. Andrea completed the Stopgap Seedbed Inclusive Dance course, learning to use the IRIS inclusive dance syllabus (dance and disability) and she has achieved the Healthy Dance Practice Certificate with Best Practice.

Professor Emma Redding MBE

Director, Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne Australia

Emma is a contemporary dance and performance science practitioner, educator and researcher. She holds a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences from City University London, UK, an MSc in Sports Science from The University of Essex, UK and a BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre from Laban, UK. She started her career as a professional dancer.

Prior to taking on the role of Director of the VCA, Emma was Professor in Performance Science and Head of Dance Science at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, UK, leading the education, research and knowledge exchange. Emma co-authored the first ever Master’s degree in Dance Science and has since played a major role in developing dance science as a recognised field of study in Higher Education through her research and through her international teaching. She is a founding partner of the UK’s National Institute for Dance Medicine and Science https://www.nidms.co.uk/ and a Past President of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science https://iadms.org /.

Emma has published over 50 papers in peer reviewed academic journals and 5 book chapters.

Emma was on the original steering group for Safe in Dance International and has been an Advisor since 2010.

Erin Sanchez MSc

Head of the National Institute of Dance M edicine and Science

One D ance UK’s, Lead Specialist Health, Wellbeing and Performance.

Originally trained as a dancer, Erin holds a BA(Hons) in Dance and Sociology and an MSc in Dance Science from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Edinburgh investigating dance talent development, psychological skills, dancers’ mental health and safeguarding in dance settings. She is a member of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science and an executive group member of Personal Safety for Dance, an international collective working to safeguard professional dancers. In 2021 she co-authored the book Performance Psychology for Dancers and all of her recent publications can be found here.

Erin is One Dance UK’s expert on health, well-being and performance and she leads on devising and delivering initiatives and partnerships in research, education and healthcare. Alongside knowledgeable, experienced colleagues in the Dance Medicine and Science Expert Panel and the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science, Erin works to ensure that the current and future workforce in dance is healthy, well, and performing at their best.

Erin is an Advisor, Registered Provider and Assessor for Safe in Dance International.

Charlotte Tomlinson MSc

Charlotte is co-author of Safe Dance Practice: an applied dance science perspective (2015) which is the key text for the SiDI Certificates. She is an independent dance teacher, lecturing and delivering on Healthy Dance Practice throughout the UK. Charlotte attained her MSc in Dance Science from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. She also has a PGCE. She has presented at the IADMS Annual Meeting several times. Charlotte also delivers Healthier Dancer talks for One Dance UK.

Charlotte is a registered course provider, advisor and assessor Safe in Dance International (SiDI), a dance lecturer, community dance practitioner, and dance leader for We Are Epic’s ID Advanced training company.

As an artist Charlotte is Artistic Director and Dance leader for SideKick Dan ce, an inclusive dance company based at Curve Theatre in Leicester, as well as running a dance group for older adults.

In 2017 Charlotte won the National One Dance UK teacher award for Inspirational Community Dance Practitioner.

Sharon Watson MBE DL

CEO and Principal of the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

Trained at the London School of Contemporary Dance, Sharon was one of the first female Principal Dancers invited to join the all-male award-winning Phoenix Dance Company, touring with the company from 1989 to 1997 where she choreographed Never Still and Shaded Limits. As a dancer with Phoenix under the Artistic Directorship of Maggie Morris, Sharon was involved in some of the first research on injury prevention and improved performance for professional dancers undertaken by Professor Yiannis Koutedakis of Wolverhampton University. Having left Phoenix to pursue a number of other ventures including setting up her own company ABCD, Sharon returned in 2009 as the new Artistic Director. During her tenure at PDT, Sharon received several awards and accolades. Including being acknowledged at the 2017 Northern Power Women Awards as part of the very first ‘Top 50 Power List’, in 2018 Sharon won the First English Woman’s Award for Arts and Culture and was presented with an Honorary Fellowship by Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

In July 2019 Sharon received an Honorary Doctorate from Leeds Beckett University for her contribution to the arts. In November 2020, Sharon was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire and in 2021 awarded an MBE in the Queens New Year’s Honours list.

Sharon is committed to improving diversity within the arts by supporting the creative voices of women and Black, Asian and ethnic minority artists.

Sharon has recently joined Safe in Dance International’s Advisory Group.

Professor Matt Wyon

Professor of Exercise Physiology
Faculty of Education, Health, and Wellbeing
Wolverhampton University

Matt has been at the forefront of dance medicine and science research for the last 30 years with over 150 peer-reviewed articles focused on reducing injury incidence and enhancing performance in vocational and professional dancers that has led to changes in dance schools and companies worldwide with regard to the healthcare of dancers and training conditions through supplemental training. He has held leadership positions with the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) since 2003 that have included being on its board, its President, Chair and member of the Research Committee (2005-13) as well as the current Chair of the Professional Development Committee.

In the UK, Matt was a founding director of the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science (NIDMS, 2012) and still sits on its management board as the scientific lead. He was also the scientific lead for a 10-year project in the Netherlands that introduced periodisation concepts into a vocational dance curriculum which resulted in decreased drop out, increased employment and an award of recognition for innovation by the Dutch government. Since 2016, Matt has run a dance medicine and science symposium aimed at developing early-stage researchers.

Matt was on the original steering group for Safe in Dance International and has been an Advisor since 2013.