The International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS) will bring leading researchers, clinicians and dance professionals from around the world to Melbourne this September for its annual global conference.
In this conversation with Josef Brown, current IADMS President Dr. Claire Hiller reflects on the organisation’s work at the intersection of dance, health and science, and what Australian participants can expect when the conference arrives at the Victorian College of the Arts.
Dr. Hiller is a physiotherapist and academic at the University of Sydney who has spent decades working with dancers, particularly adolescents, before moving into research and teaching. Her pathway into dance medicine was, she explains, largely accidental: while studying contemporary dance at London’s Laban, she stepped in as the institution’s physiotherapist after the previous practitioner departed. That experience set her on a course that would eventually lead to clinical work with dancers, research into injury prevention and rehabilitation, and a leadership role within IADMS.
Founded to advance knowledge in dance medicine and science, IADMS brings together a global network of dancers, teachers, clinicians and researchers with a shared goal: supporting dancers to perform longer, stronger and with better health outcomes. In recent years the organisation has expanded its focus to include the growing field of dance for health — exploring how dance can be used as a powerful tool for improving physical, cognitive and social wellbeing across a wide range of communities.
The annual IADMS conference reflects this breadth. Over four days, delegates attend keynote lectures, research presentations, panel discussions and practical workshops addressing topics ranging from injury prevention and rehabilitation to teaching practice, biomechanics, psychology and cultural perspectives within dance training.
Just as important, Hiller says, are the opportunities for connection.
Researchers at every stage of their careers present new work, students meet established leaders in the field, and practitioners exchange ideas with colleagues from across the international dance sector. Movement workshops, roundtable discussions and informal networking events sit alongside the academic program, creating a uniquely interdisciplinary gathering.
For Australian participants, the Melbourne conference represents a rare opportunity. It is only the second time in the organisation’s history that the event has been held in Australia.
Hosted at the Victorian College of the Arts, the conference will take place from 25–28 September, with additional pre-conference workshops expected earlier in the week.
As Hiller notes, bringing the global community together in Melbourne offers an important chance for Australian dancers, teachers and health professionals to engage directly with the latest research and conversations shaping the future of dance health worldwide.