Research and Consultancy
I would like to thank you now for your support and enthusiasm over two very interesting years. Politics started off as simply something I had not looked at seriously before, so I thought I would give it a go. I'm hooked now and find it all both terrifying and enormously stimulating. Thank you very much and my best wishes for the future
My Approach
As a truly multidisciplinary practitioner, I integrate my academic background into my dance as much as I can, not only in the research of the content of the sessions but also in the reflection and investigation of the role of dance and movement in wider societal aspects.
I am currently engaged in the study of the role of dance and movement in the health and wellbeing , quality of life and civic engagement of adults both in the community and institutional settings (care homes, hospitals, etc. ), and the role of dance in the health and wellbeing in carers’ lives during Covid 19 (this latter is part of a collaborative research project amongst various UK Universities and carer focused organisations).
Credentials
In addition to my PhD, I hold a PGCE, specialising in training and e-learning. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, an Associate Lecturer in Politics, International Development, Environment, and Mental Health in the Community at the Open University (since 2008), Visiting Researcher at the Open University (since 2019), a Specialist Qualitative Researcher, a Dementia Awareness Trainer Specialist and I was Artistic Quality Assessor for the Arts Council for a number of years.
I am also currently a journal, book and modules reviewer, and act as consultant researcher and evaluator for artists, art events, public and private sectors programmes.
Current Research
- The role of digital poverty in students and tutors’ work post pandemic and how to reduce the negative impact
- The impact of dance and movement in older adults with and without a diagnosis of neurological conditions both living in the community and in institutional settings
- The role of dance and traditions in rediscovering connections with the land (and how to nurture it)
- The role of organisational development of small arts and dance organisations where professional and community dance meet
- The relationship between dance and movement and its impact on Public health
- Nervous regulation tools to support health and wellbeing
- Embriogenesis applications to resolve trauma
- Energy medicine applications to neurodiversity and trauma
Publications
- Horne J, Donald L, Gracia R, Kentzer N, Pappas Y, Trott M, Penson M & Vseteckova J (2023) Supporting adult unpaid carers via an online dancing intervention: A feasibility/acceptability study. Under review with PLOS Global Public Health
- Álvarez Puente, Inma ; Botana Martín-Abril, Marta and Gracia, Rosaria (2022). La danza como intervención educativa en la tercera edad. In: La investigación en danza (Giménez-Morte, Carmen; Martínez Costa, Miriam and Soprano Manzo, Virginia eds.), Mahali, Valencia, pp. 447–452
- Donald L, Gracia R, Kentzer N, Horne J, Pappas Y, Trott M, Penson M, Smith L & Vseteckova J (2021) Supporting adult carers via an online dancing intervention: A feasibility/acceptability study. Funded by The Open University
- Jitka Vseteckova, Rosaria Gracia, Joseph De Lappe, Inma Alvarez, Marta Botana, Nichola Kentzer, Jo Horne, Melinda Spencer (2021). The impact of dance and movement on learning, health, well-being and quality of life older adults living in a residential care setting with or without dementia: a systematic review of UK based literature – protocol. PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019127954 Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42019127954
- Rosaria M. Gracia, Jitka Vseteckova, Joseph de Lappe, Inma Alvarez, Marta Botana, Nichola Kentzer, Jo Horne, Melinda Spencer (2021). The impact of dance and movement on learning, health, well-being and quality of life in older adults living in a residential care setting with or without dementia: a systematic review of International based literature – protocol. PROSPERO 2021 CRD42021268085 Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021268085
- Vseteckova J, Dadova K, Gracia R, Ryan G, Borgstrom E, Abington J, Deepak – Gopinath M, Pappas Y (2020) Barriers and facilitators to adherence to walking group exercise in older people living with dementia in the community: a systematic review. Eur Rev Aging Phys Act 17, 15 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s11556-020-00246-6
- Vseteckova J, Gracia R (2019) The impact of dance and movement on learning, health, wellbeing and quality of life of institutionalised older adults living with or without dementia: a systematic review protocol. PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019127954 Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO
- Herman, Clem; Gracia, Rosaria; MacNiven, Lesley; Clark, Bernie and Doyle, Geraldine (2019). Using a Blended Learning Approach to support Women returning to STEM. Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 34(1) pp. 40–60
- Rosaria M. Gracia, Jitka Vseteckova, Nichola Kentzer, Joseph De Lappe, Melinda Spencer, Rebecca Jones (2019). The impact of dance and movement on learning, health, wellbeing and quality of life of older adults living with or without dementia and/or Parkinson’s in the community: a systematic review protocol. PROSPERO 2019 CRD42019127953 Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42019127953
Presentations
- 2023 The impact of community-based dance on the lives of older adults. Brighton and Sussex Medical Schools Lunch Seminars. June 23
- 2022 The impact of community-based dance on the lives of older adults: highlights of a scoping review, Health and the Arts work in progress – October 22
- 2021 Dancing for Health and Wellbeing: community cohesion from a dance/movement intervention perspective. Wellbeing @WELS (2nd December 2021)
- 2021 Dance and Movement workshop. SHL Carers event 25th November (17th November 2021)
- 2021 Dance and movement workshop. SHL (re)Freshers Orientation – Friday night social (17th September 2021)
- 2021 Building on our resilience – WELS Showcase (23rd June 2021) https://studenthublive.open.ac.uk/content/wels-showcase-building-our-resilience-23- june-2021
- 2021 Supporting informal carers via an online dancing intervention: A feasibility/acceptability study. Parish Nursing Ministries Conference. HAIC session, April 21
- 2020 More Culture Less Medicine (online conference) Culture Shift. Brighton, November 2020
- 2019 Dancing for health and wellbeing. 5th International Community Psychology Festival. University of Brighton, September 2019.
- 2019 Barriers and facilitators to adherence to exercise by people diagnosed with dementia and carers/family members. British Society of Gerontology. Annual Conference. Liverpool, July 2019
- 2018. Presentation of Evaluation’s findings : Equate Scotland and women returnship project. Scholarship Network Event. Open University, November 2018.
- 2015, ‘Finding your Compass: the 3 Rs’ Dangerous Currents. Risk and regulations at the interface of medicine and the arts. Association for Medical Humanities. Annual Conference 2015 (24th June). Dartington Hall. Falmouth University.
- 2014, ‘Finding your Compass’ Fresh approaches to wellbeing. St. Peter’s NHS surgery. Brighton, 1st October 2014
- 2014, ‘Finding your Compass’ Wellbeing Fair (Directory of Social Change) London, 26th September 2014
- 2014, ‘Advising young people on careers in the creative arts’. Creative Café. Culture Shift. Eastbourne, June 2014.
- 2014, ‘e-Ambassadors: Exploring innovative methods to embed employability in practice based STEM distance learning’ with Rachel Ferris. 3rd eSTEeM Annual Conference 2014. STEM Futures: Reflecting on Teaching and Learning. www.open.ac.uk/esteem
- 2013, Poster for the research ‘Can you Sing? A qualitative study’ with Dr. Andersen. Annual Conference 2013 Poster Competition. College of Medicine Annual Conference (11 June 2013) Awarded 2nd prize
- 2007, “Women in Media: Creative Inequality?” paper presented at the 5TH International Interdisciplinary Conference. Gender, Work and Organisation. Keele University (UK). June 27th – 29th 2007
- 2007 “Determining Information Needs: The Accessibility Information Matrix” with Carey, K., Power, C., Petrie, H. and Carmien, S. Paper presented at the 12th International Conference of Human Interaction Beijing International Convention Centre (China), June 2007
- 2005, “Neither here nor there: analysing access to new technologies and gender issues” Conference Proceedings. 6th International Conference of Women into Computing. University of Greenwich. London, UK
- 2005, Multistakeholder panel on ICT and social inclusion. Presentation made on behalf of the Gender Caucus on the World Summit for Information Society. Ministry of Economy. Belgrade, February 2005
- 2005, “Mainstreaming” as highlighting or neutralising? Ex/Inclusivity of Gender in ICTs from a European perspective” with Dr. J. Stein (Paper presented at the 3rd European Symposium on Gender and ICT: Working for Change. Manchester, February 2005
- 2001, ‘ICT and Development: Basic Feature and Questions’ with Kevin Carey Paper presented at the Oneworld Dotforce meeting in Nice. ww.oneworld.net/dotforce. Nice, France. January, 2001
Management & Evaluation Experience
My management experience has been based on my integrity, my ability to manage expectations, and to work with individuals and groups both developing their skills and reaching agreed outcomes. This often involves dealing with unexpected events, overcoming obstacles, and supporting individuals and groups to achieve what they set out to do.
My evaluation experience comprises evaluation of artistic projects (mid and end life of the project), qualitative researcher and evaluator of interdisciplinary projects.
Some of my project management work includes: working as Advisory Member of Board of Directors ( Reside Dance CIC, since 2021), devising specific programmes and creating bespoke activities including mentoring and volunteering opportunities for organisations (Three Score Dance 2013 – 2020), working as a founder and co-lead practitioner of organisations ( Finding your Compass 2012 – 2018; Synergy Arts 2006-2009) and coordinating and choreographing performing groups ( Maracatu Cruzeiro do Sul 2009 – 2023; Rosaria Gracia Dance since 2010)
