Helen Laws is an experienced dance manager/researcher, who was instrumental in shaping One Dance UK’s Healthier Dancer Programme; responding to the needs of the dance sector and spearheading initiatives that have led to improved education, knowledge and specialist healthcare provision and dance science support for dancers.

Helen led on bringing together the UK’s leaders in the field to form the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science in 2012, establishing the first NHS dance injury clinics, for which she was recognised in the 2014 Evening Standard's 1000 most influential Londoners, alongside Caroline Miller.

She is the author of Fit to Dance 2 – The report of the second national inquiry into dancers’ health and injury in the UK and, in 2020-2022, managed a programme of research at Russell Maliphant Dance Company exploring relationships between health and aesthetic dance performance. In her various roles Helen has programmed and delivered conferences, produced publications and managed networks for dance professionals including dance artists, educators, managers, dance scientists and healthcare practitioners; encouraging communication across disciplines.

She served as a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science board, 2005-2013 and holds a BA(Hons) Degree in Dance (with French) and a Diploma in Arts Management from Roehampton University. She is currently a Postgraduate Researcher at Coventry University’s Centre for Dance Research (C-DaRE).

Helen’s research interests lie around the health, wellbeing and sustainability of careers for dance professionals. She is particularly interested in identifying environmental and socio-political factors which are, and could be, conducive to dancers enjoying longer, healthier, fulfilling careers, less impacted by poor working conditions or status.