Andrea Downie
Positions
Assistant Professor (Teaching)
PhD Candidate
Faculty of Kinesiology
Contact information
Background
Credentials
Seedbed Inclusive Dance Teacher Training, Stopgap Dance, 2024
Healthy Dance Practice Certificate with Best Practice, Safe in Dance International, 2018
Master Teacher, Level 1 & 2 Certified C-I Training Teacher, Conditioning-with-Imagery (Dr. Donna Krasnow), 2008
Certified Simonson Technique Teacher, Lynn Simonson, 1997
Educational Background
Ph.D. Candidate Kinesiology, Specialization: Innovation in Pedagogy and Sport Performance, University of Calgary, 2021
M.A. Dance Studies, York University, 2010
B.F.A Specialized Honours Dance Performance, York University, 1994
Biography
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 teaching and learning, and in dancer wellness curricula with a special interest in how dance science and somatic movement can contribute to humanizing dance practice and promote embodied flourishing in and through dance. Her master’s research at York University focused on motor learning and ways dance leaders can use multimodal methods to enhance dance skill learning.
Andrea is an Assistant Professor (Teaching) in Dance, where she teaches dance techniques, dance pedagogy, dance science, and complementary training courses. She is a founding member and Past President of Healthy Dancer Canada, the Founding Director of Enhance Dance, and a CPD course provider for Royal Academy of Dance Canada. She is also a Registered Provider, assessor, and advisory group member with Safe in Dance International for the Healthy Dance Certificates, and has achieved the Healthy Dance Practice Certificate with Best Practice. She delivers the certificates to the undergraduate and graduate dance science students at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
Andrea is a Conditioning-with-Imagery (C-I) TrainingTM master teacher, the instructor of the Level 1 C-I TrainingTM teacher certification courses, and a certified teacher of Simonson Technique. She completed the Stopgap Seedbed Inclusive Dance course and is currently pursuing the IRIS inclusive dance certification (dance and disability).
Research
Areas of Research
Andrea Downie’s research explores the influence and integration of dance science and somatic movement in dance with a focus on their contributions to dancer wellness curricula, humanizing dance teaching and learning, and embodied flourishing in and through dance. Her work is informed by theories of healthy dance practice, social- and eco-somatics, developmental embodiment, equity-informed and humanizing pedagogies, and education for relational human flourishing. She uses qualitative approaches, including critical and arts-informed methodologies, to examine dance teaching and learning contexts. While she has experience and interest in many dancing populations and dance education settings, Andrea’s current research focuses on teaching and learning in higher education dance programs.
Participation in university strategic initiatives
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| DNCE 201/205 | Introductory Contemporary Dance I | W2019, W2020, W2026 |
| DNCE 207 | Elementary Contemporary Dance I | F2023 |
| DNCE 209 | Elementary Contemporary Dance II | W2020, W2022, W2023 |
| DNCE 235 | Safe Dance and Complementary Training | W2025 |
| DNCE 307 | Intermediate Contemporary Dance I | W2019 |
| DNCE 313/413 | Elementary Jazz Dance I & Intermediate Jazz Dance II | W2019 |
| DNCE 359 | Dance Anatomy | F2021, F2022, F2024, F2025 |
| DNCE 375 | Complementary Training for Dance | W2021 |
| DNCE 407/507 | Intermediate Contemporary Dance III & Advanced Contemporary Dance II | W2022 |
| DNCE 447 | Dance Pedagogy: Community Populations | F2021, W2024, W2026 |
| DNCE 449 | Dance Pedagogy: Children and Youth | F2020, W2023, W2025 |
| DNCE 493 | Dance Teaching Practicum | W2024, W2025, W2026 |
| KNES 402 | Dance and Health Promotion | F2024 |
Awards
- Doctoral Fellowship, Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council. 2022
- Kinesiology Dean's Doctoral Scholarship, University of Calgary. 2020
- Nomination, Teaching Award, International Association for Dance Medicine & Science. 2020
- Nomination, Student Union Teaching Excellence Award, University of Calgary. 2019
- Nomination, Dean's Award for Master's Thesis, York University. 2010
Publications
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