International Health Humanities Network Membership

Carmel McKenna (MA MBS TCRG Chartered MCIPD) has been involved in Irish step dancing for over 50 years. During that time, she has acted in multiple, often overlapping, roles including that of dance student, competitor, performer, choreographer, educator, teacher, researcher and research supervisor.
Carmel attained her Irish Dance Teacher’s qualification in 1987. She also holds a MBS in Human Resource Management and a MA in Ethnochoreology, both with 1st Class Hons. and both from the University of Limerick.
Carmel is an active member in, and historian and archivist for, An Chomhdháil na Múinteoirí le Rincí Gaelacha cuideachta faoi Theorainn Ráthaíochta (Congress of Irish Dance Teachers).

Carmel’s varied research interests range from the analysis of gender in Irish dance to examination of issues such as power, politics and influence in Irish dance organizations. More recently, she has acted as research co-supervisor for interdisciplinary research at LIT which stands at the intersection of dance/movement and its application in social care and wider health humanities settings.

 

Carmel has presented from both a practitioner and academic standpoint at numerous national and international conferences and symposia since 2008.

Research Co-Supervision (MA by Research):
2018 (ongoing): Exploring the psycho-social effects of the introduction of an adaptive Ceili dance activity for people living with dementia and their carers.
2016 to 2018: Analysis of the Loss & Grief experienced by competitive Irish dancers transitioning to Irish dance teaching careers

 

Professional Memberships: International Council of Dance (CID) at UNESCO International Association of Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) Irish Medical Humanities Network (IMHN)

Arts & Health Research Cluster (UL/LIT/MIC)

Dance Research Forum Ireland (DRFI) Oral History Network Ireland (OHNI)