Rebecca BarnstapleView profile
Assistant Professor
Dr. Rebecca Barnstaple is an Assistant Professor in the School of Theatre, English, and Creative Writing at the University of Guelph, within the College of Arts. She holds a Ph.D. in Dance Neuroscience from York University (2020), an M.A. in Dance, Philosophy, and Neuroscience (2016), and a Bachelor of Creative Arts, Health, and Wellness Education. Her research focuses on the biological impacts of cultural activities, particularly dance-based interventions for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, as well as chronic pain management. She advocates for upstream healthcare models, including Social Prescribing and creative health initiatives. Dr. Barnstaple has led dance programs for neurodiverse populations for over a decade and co-directs the Research to Practice Lab at ZOE School of Dance Movement Therapy in Basel. She has conducted pioneering work using Mobile Brain-Body Imaging (MoBI) at TU Berlin and contributed to Randomized Controlled Trials at Wake Forest University. Her leadership roles include the Dance Movement Therapy Association of Canada and the International Association of Dance Medicine Science. Her publications highlight dance’s role in mental health, neurorehabilitation, and aging, with recent studies emphasizing virtual interventions during the pandemic and culturally inclusive health practices. She has received fellowships from the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI) and TU Berlin. Professionally, she managed Community Initiatives at Chigamik Health Centre and designed a Social Prescribing program. Her work bridges clinical practice, policy, and transdisciplinary research, aiming to integrate arts therapies into mainstream healthcare systems.
