My research inspiration is taken from my deep interest in the acquisition of knowledges in and with the body. Interdiscplinary research and working collaboratively and collectively are values in my practice. I am curious about artistic practices, how these are supported and other discplines that overlap.  I am a keen advocate of working in the profession and bringing this experience into academia to understand and share the experience and support the future dancers and leaders of our industry. 

Karen is currently a dance practitioner/ researcher/ educator. She works at the Centre for Dance Research at Coventry University, as Associate Professor and Co-Director of Birmingham Dance Network. Her current research interests are exploring concepts of collaboration, ethics of care and responsibility, collective identities and leadership in relation to freelance communities and cultural policy. She is Chair of the Board for Vanhulle Dance Theatre and on Brum Pro Class Steering Group. 

For her artistic research, Karen uses the lens of phenomenology, particularly perception and embodiment, and improvisation to explore screendance, digital technologies, contemporary dance and tap dance practices. Karen is passionate about working with artists to expand professional practice. She sees the value in artist-led initiatives and how they can create opportunity and encourage risk taking for dance making practices. Her work includes artistic research projects that have previously been supported by Arts Council England and involved collaborating with other art forms, such as neuroscience, fine art, lighting design and music. 

Area of Expertise:

Freelance working conditions, collaboration, ethics, contemporary dance and tap dance practices, embodied research methods, practice research, dance film, dance science.