Jan Dunn, Contributor – Dance Wellness
Jan Dunn, MS
Contributor Jan Dunn is a dance medicine specialist currently based in Denver / Boulder, CO, and Los Angeles, CA. She is Co-Director of Denver Dance Medicine Associates, a Pilates rehabilitation specialist, Franklin Method Educator II, and Adjunct Professor, University of Colorado – Boulder, Dept. of Theatre and Dance. She has been active in Dance Medicine since 1984. She was previously Coordinator of The Dance Wellness Lab, Dept. of Theater & Dance, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA (2005 –2008).
Her BS / MS degrees are in Dance Science from The University of West Florida, and she was a doctoral candidate in Movement Science / Dance, Florida State University. She was on the original Board of Directors of IADMS (International Asso. for Dance Medicine and Science) 1991-1993, served as President 1993-1997, as Executive Director 1997-2001, and again on the BOD 2003-2009, as well as on the Education Committee. She served as organizer and Co-Chair, International Dance Medicine Conference, Taiwan 2004, sponsored by Polestar Pilates Education, and was founding chair of the National Dance Association’s (USA) Committee on Dance Science and Medicine, 1989-1993.
She has held dance faculty positions at Colorado College, Connecticut College, Academy of Colorado Ballet, School of the Hartford Ballet, Florida State University, Washington University (St. Louis), and Pensacola Junior College (Director, Dance Degree Program). Jan was Associate Dean / Workshop Coordinator at the American Dance Festival (Durham, NC) 1983 – 1991.
Her Pilates training includes: Pilates rehabilitation certification from St. Francis Memorial Hospital (San Francisco) 1992; Polestar Pilates Rehabilitation Courses 1996-1999; and courses with Pilates master trainers. She has established and directed Pilates rehabilitation programs for physical therapy clinics (4) in Connecticut and Colorado (1992-2004), and was co-owner of 30th Street Pilates in Boulder, CO (2002-2005). Jan is certified in the Franklin Method, Levels I-II (2004-2007), and is currently conducting research in the Franklin Method at Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles).
She originated The Dance Medicine/Science Resource Guide; and was co-founder of the Journal of Dance Medicine & Science. She has taught dance medicine, Pilates, and Franklin workshops for medical / dance and academic institutions in the USA / Europe / Middle East / and Asia, authored numerous articles in the field, served as editor for Dance Science issues of various journals, and presented at many national and international conferences.
Ms. Dunn will be writing a new column, “Dance Wellness” for 4dancers in 2012.
Please note that any and all contributor posts on 4dancers are the opinion of the guest dance professional and are not researched or fact-checked by 4dancers.