This week we are sharing information about a dance sandpit event that the SPRINT Project held at The Exchange in September. Read on to find out about what sandpit events are, and what the SPRINT team and the many collaborators achieved!
Image description: Pictures of The Exchange where the sandpit took place.
What is a sandpit event?
A sandpit event is an interactive workshop designed to foster creativity and collaboration among participants from diverse backgrounds. These events typically bring together academics, sector professionals, and others with a vested interest to explore and address complex issues within a specific theme, in this case, safeguarding and abuse prevention in dance.
The goal of sandpits is to develop actionable research projects or initiatives to drive advancements forward in a particular topic area.
What happened at the sandpit event?
23 people attended the hybrid sandpit event at the Exchange in Birmingham. There were several representatives from the dance industry—dancers, medical professionals who work with dancers, researchers and dance educators, safeguarding experts and epidemiologists. Erin Sanchez, who is an affiliate member of the SPRINT Project from OneDance UK, also joined the sandpit.
The aim of the sandpit was to discuss safeguarding and abuse prevention in the dance industry.
Prior to the meeting, many of the attendees introduced themselves via a welcome Padlet.
Image description: Image of the Welcome Padlet which attendees introduced themselves on.
At the start of the sandpit, attendees discussed what evidence is currently available. Then we considered the flip side—what is lacking that could facilitate a strong case for the urgency and necessity of promoting safeguarding and abuse prevention research and practices in dance.
Next, attendees discussed what projects would address existing challenges. An incredible 53 project ideas were identified!
Image description: Image showing what we currently know about safeguarding and abuse prevention in the dance industry.
After a lunch break, the afternoon discussion centered around how to turn the 53 project ideas into feasible actions.
Output ideas
The sandpit resulted in many great ideas on how to address existing challenges and turn attendees’ ideas into actions. These ideas can turn into projects but also different outputs that are needed and relevant in dance research.
After the sandpit, we asked attendees to give ideas about which outputs would be feasible and needed.
Reflection
Following the sandpit, SPRINT Project team members Prof Jennifer Cumming, Dr Mary Quinton, Dr Grace Tidmarsh, PhD Researchers Maria Kolitsida and Michelle Schachtler Dwarika, and School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation PhD Researcher Morgan-Jayde Milne reflected on the session.
Ideas were brought together following these important reflections.
Image description: A photo of post it notes on a large piece of paper which contain ideas and thoughts generated in the post-sandpit reflection.
Watch this space to find out how the ideas generated at the sandpit turn into tangible research and practice actions in safeguarding and abuse prevention dance!
Want to find out more about the research projects that the SPRINT team are completing in relation to all things dance? Check out the dance project page here!
Image credit: University of Birmingham conferences, Dr Mary Quinton and Dr Grace Tidmarsh.
Written by Michelle Schachtler Dwarika, PhD Researcher in the SPRINT Project, and Dr Sally Reynard, Postdoctoral Researcher in the SPRINT Project.
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