People Behind the Scenes

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PhD researcher at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Glasgow Caledonian University (in collaboration with Sco ish Ballet) Emily Davis danced with Pennsylvania Ballet (recently renamed Philadelphia Ballet) for six years. Now she’s carrying out the first PhD exploring dance health for people living with multiple sclerosis.

What inspired you to start your PhD?

Whilst dancing professionally, I was studying at the University of Pennsylvania and working with organisations that provided accessible arts opportunities across community and clinical se ings. I taught dance in a traumatic brain and spinal cord injury unit and was also carrying out research in neurological rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy. I could see the potential for dance in health and social care. In 2021, I put my pointe shoes to the side to undertake a full-time PhD.

What made you choose to work with Sco ish Ballet?

I knew of Sco ish Ballet through the University of Florida’s Center for Arts in Medicine, which has worked closely with Sco ish Ballet in a multi-site partnership for dance for MS practice and research. I looked at the dance health pages of Sco ish Ballet’s website hundreds of times. Dance companies o en have specific dance health projects but to have a dance health department is really