Mindfulness training in vocational dance

Background: Interest regarding the impact of mindfulness on performance has grown dramatically over the past decade, with research focused primarily on its application within the sporting domain. Recent research has explored the integration of mindfulness into the curriculum within vocation dance programs (see Moyle, 2016) with current research building upon these studies investigating mindfulness training programs across two University dance training institutions. This workshop will explore the current research focusing upon the content and delivery of the respective mindfulness programs, with a focus on sharing current observations and findings to-date that may be relevant to practitioners, educators and researchers interested in this field. Evidence: Sport research has shown mindfulness based approaches (e.g., Mindfulness Acceptance Commitment (MAC) (Gardner & Moore, 2007); Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) (Hayes & Wilson, 1994)) facilitate enhanced sport performance and improved personal and psychological wellbeing (Gardner & Moore, 2017). Whilst body-mind connection could be argued to be inherent in dance training, there is limited research investigating specific relationships between mindfulness, dance performance and dancer well-being (Moyle, 2016). Outcomes: This workshop will present two mindfulness training programs that have been implemented in dance courses at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). Conclusions: These programs, while developed independently, both draw from aspects of the MAC and ACT approaches, with content tailored to be dance specific and focused on mindfulness skills that may provide students with strategies to produce optimal performance.