Emma Meehan

Dr. Emma Meehan is an Associate Professor at Coventry University’s Research Centre for Dance Research (C-DaRE). She holds a BA and PhD from Trinity College Dublin, where she also taught part-time and supported the Digital Arts and Humanities Doctoral Programme. Her research focuses on somatic practices, arts in health, and Irish dance theatre, with a particular emphasis on embodiment and urban design. She has led major projects including 'Somatic practice, chronic pain and self-care technology' funded by the AHRC. Meehan is a board member for the Journal of Dance and Somatic Practices and the Association of Somatic Movement Dance Therapies (UK/Ireland), and co-convened the IFTR Performance as Research Working Group (2013–2017).

Her research explores how somatic practices address social/cultural issues through performance and wellbeing contexts, combining academic inquiry with practitioner expertise. Key projects include 'Sensing the City' (urban embodiment mapping) and 'Dialogue Moves' (Indonesian religious/cultural dialogue through dance). She has supervised 6 research students and delivered invited talks at institutions including Gadjah Mada University (Indonesia) and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil).

• Education: PhD & BA (Drama), Trinity College Dublin
• Awards: 5 major prizes including Arts Council Ireland Dance Bursary (2014)
• Key Projects: 7 funded initiatives (AHRC, Health Research Council NZ)

Her work bridges artistic practice with healthcare innovation, particularly in chronic pain management and urban sensory design.