Senior Lecturer in Dance

Louise completed her PhD in dance at the University of Bedfordshire in 2014. She has published a chapter in the Oxford Handbook for Dance and Wellbeing (2017) and has presented papers at several international conferences on the topic of flow and well-being in dance. Louise co-lead on the dance and well-being project: Generations Dancing - a community arts project investigating the impact of an intergenerational arts intervention on participants' well-being, quality of life and citizenship. Louise has been working as a Lecturer in Dance at the University of Bedfordshire since 2013.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Bedfordshire (2014)
• BA (Hons) Performing Arts, University of Bedfordshire

Teaching expertise

• Dance theory; history, analysis and criticism
• Anatomy and physiology
• Dance and wellbeing
• Dissertation supervision

Research projects

• Moving Experience: an investigation of embodied knowledge and technology for reading flow in improvisation. PhD Thesis.

Publications

Book chapters:

• Douse, L. (2017) ‘Flow in the dancing body: an intersubjective experience,’ in Lycouris, S., Karkou, V. and Oliver, S. (Eds.) The Oxford handbook for dance and wellbeing. Oxford University Press, pp. 273-292.

Journal articles:

• Farrer, R., Douse, L. Aujla, I. (2022) ‘Sustainable arts and health: the role of a university in facilitating an intergenerational, interdisciplinary community arts project,’ Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, 26 (1), pp. 89-104.
• Douse, L., Farrer, R. and Aujla, I. (2020) ‘The impact of an intergenerational dance project on older adults’ social and emotional well-being,’ Frontiers in Psychology, 11. DOI: 3389/fpsyg.2020.561126
• Douse, L. (2015) ‘Technological cognitive embodiment and the digital ‘other’’, in Maragiannis, A. (Eds.) Final Paper/ Proceedings of the Digital Research in the Humanities and Arts Conference, DRHA2014, London, pp. 145-150.

Conference papers

• Douse L. (2017) ‘The experience of flow in improvisation: exploring the relationship between authenticity and potentiality,’ [Paper] How does performance philosophy act: Ethos – ethics – ethnography. The 3^rd biennial Performance Philosophy Conference. The Academy of the Sciences and the Academy of Performing Arts, Prague, 22-25 June 2017.
• Douse, L. (2017) ‘A Dance in Time’ [Paper] Dance Fields Conference, Roehampton University, 19-22 April 2017.
• Douse, L. (2016) ‘Maximising motivation: enhancing student engagement through survey data.’ [Paper] HEA Surveys Conference, The Studio, Birmingham, 13^th July 2016.
• Douse, L. (2015) ‘Corporeal memory: habit and the reconstitution of self,’ [Paper] Dance and Somatic Practices Conference 2015 Ethics and Repair: Continuing Dialogues within Somatic Informed Practice and Philosophy, Coventry University, 9-12 July 2015.
• Douse, L. (2015) ‘Flow in improvisation: a liminal space,’ [Paper] Dance Improvisation: A Philosophical Perspective, University of Leeds, 21-22 May 2015.
• Douse, L. and Farrer, R. (2015) ‘DanceHE early career speed networking’ [Workshop] Resilience: Articulating Dance ‘Knowledges’ in the C21st, De Montfort University, 9 April 2015.
• Douse, L. (2015) ‘Visualising flow: analysing optimal experience in the body of the performer.’ [Paper] Does It Matter? Composite Bodies and Posthuman Prototypes in Contemporary Performing Arts, Ghent University, 17-19 March 2015.
• Douse, L. (2014) ‘Technological cognitive embodiment and the digital ‘other.’’ [Paper] DRHA 2014 (Digital Resources in the Humanities and Arts) Communication Futures: Connecting interdisciplinary design practices in arts/culture, academia and the creative industries, University of Greenwich, 31 August-3 September 2014.
• Douse, L. (2011) ‘Emergent methodologies: knowledge gained from praxis.’ [Paper] Outcomes and Impacts: University of Bedfordshire Teaching and Learning Annual Conference, University of Bedfordshire: 2-6 July 2011.
• Douse, L. (2011) ‘Capturing flow: new methodologies for optimising dance.’ [Poster] From Motivation to Movement: Towards an Empirical Understanding of the Role of Dance in Health, University of Bedfordshire: 24-25 June 2011.
• Douse, L. (2010) 'Performance archive: a digital resource for collaborative teaching and learning.' [Digital Poster] DRHA 2010 (Digital Resources in the Humanities and Arts) Sensual Technologies: Collaborative Practices of Interdisciplinarity Annual International Conference, Brunel University: 5-8 September 2010.
• Douse, L. (2010) 'Performance archive: the online dissemination of student research and practice.' [Poster] Bridging the Gap: University of Bedfordshire Teaching and Learning Annual Conference, University of Bedfordshire: 6-7 July 2010.

Other public output

Research events:

• Douse, L., Leach, M. and Hay, M. (2018) From Heidegger to Performance Symposium. De Montfort University, Leicester, 18^th September 2018 [Event convener]
• Farrer, R. and Douse L. (2018) Generation Dancing: Performance and Exhibition, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford, 8^th July 2018 [Event convener]
• Farrer, R. and Douse, L. (2018) Beds Talks: Generations Dancing Event Launch, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford, 8th March 2018 [Event convener]

Invited speaker:

• Douse, L. (2017) ‘Moving experience: an investigation of embodied knowledge and technology for reading flow in improvisation.’ Invited speaker. ISPAR Conference. University of Bedfordshire, Bedford, 12 June 2017.
• Douse, L. (2015) ‘Moving experience: an investigation of embodied knowledge and technology for reading flow in improvisation.’ Invited lecture. Research Lab, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, London, 22 October 2015.
• Douse, L. (2015) ‘Surviving your viva.’ Invited speaker. RIMAP Postgraduate Symposium. University of Bedfordshire, Bedford, 14 May 2015.

Performance Practice:

• A Dance in Time (2015) Choreographed and performed by Maggie Killingbeck, Cathy Washbrooke, Selina Martin, Louise Douse and Saul Keyworth. [Chateau de Millemont, France, 21 July].
• Toothache Duets (2012-2013) in collaboration with Eirini Kartsaki. Toothache Duets was about being apart and yet making things together; the duets were only realised online based on fleeting ideas, objects and language. For the final 6 months Eirini and I curated other artists within the online platform.

Workshops:

• Douse, L. (2016) ‘Scientific and somatic perspectives on touch, massage and well being’, Somatic Practice Short Course, University of Bedfordshire, 18 November 2016.
• Douse, L, Ashley, T. and Aujla, J. (2015) ‘Sensation, Experiential Learning and Creativity: Tools for self-practice and enquiry in Somatic Research’, Somatic Practice Short Course, University of Bedfordshire, 21-22 November 2015.

Contact details

T: +44 (0)1234 793451

E: louise.douse@beds.ac.uk

Other references

• Facebook
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• www.louisedouse.com