With evidence in this area being currently extremely limited,
the survey aims to help the organisations better understand a wide range of
dancers' mental wellbeing as well as the psychological challenges faced in the industry and in dance education today.
It is hoped that with this research, they will better be able to act on the most urgent issues for those in dance right now.
One Dance UK, National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science, psychologists at the University of Chichester, and Minding the Gap are carrying out the research.
Erin Sanchez, Manager of Health, Wellbeing, and Performance at One Dance UK and Manager of the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science says:
"We are committed to supporting the physical and mental health of those in the dance sector, not only to support their success in work and training, but also to support their ability to flourish in their lives outside of dance.
"Research can be a powerful tool for creating change. By participating, you are a part of supporting mental health services, education, and healthy practices that reflect the current needs of those in dance. Your voice matters."
A
series of images of dancers from esteemed independent director, filmmaker and photographe
r Rick Guest will accompany the survey, alongside powerful quotes from those featured in the images discussing their thoughts on mental health.
The images featuring dancers such as
Olivia Cowley and
Jordan James Bridge are taken from Guests'
'what lies beneath' series, a powerful visual story that aims to strip away the external layers of costume, role and performance to reveal the character of the dancer themselves.
This research follows on from the 1996 and 2005 Fit to Dance research carried out by Dance UK and builds on this research by including validated measures in both wellbeing, flourishing and engagement and mental health concerns.