News Story
Katrina McPherson, Course Leader: MA Screendance has been awarded a PhD by Published Works by Edinburgh Napier University. Katrina’s PhD project A Space of Time: the evolution of a screendance practice explores the relationship between making, writing and teaching as a model for developing screendance. Katrina’s PhD was a portfolio submission in which the accompanying thesis examines and expands upon the most recent iterations of her artistic research. The submitted works included films, articles, an online catalogue and the second edition of Katrina’s sole authored book Making Video Dance – a step-by-step guide to creating dance for the screen (Routledge, 2019).
“As a practicing director and screendance artist with over 30 years of making, teaching and publishing experience, the PhD by Published Works was the perfect fit for me. Here, it is the published works, written and filmic, and the analytical commentary, reflection and articulation as expressed in the thesis, that together provide a multi-model account of the research. In the unfolding story, as in my portfolio career to date, I embody the roles of artist, director, cinematographer, performer, researcher, collaborator, writer, teacher and mother.
Screendance exists in a hybrid space between dance and the moving image, and involves performance, film and video, visual arts, music and sonic arts. Expanding on the interdisciplinarity of the art form, my thesis draws on contemporary theories from different disciplines and their intersections. Selected for their relevance to my own practice, these theories include current and emerging dance, improvisation and documentary film studies.
Having successfully completed the thesis and viva and now been awarded the PhD, I am excited to continue to integrate the new ideas and reflections into my practice, teaching and ongoing research. In the past six months, I have been in the role of Course Leader: MA Screendance at London Contemporary Dance School. The multifaceted aspects of this role draw on this experience and I look forward to continuing to explore and develop new areas of research, collaboration and learning with students and faculty at The Place.”
Dr Katrina McPherson, 12 May 2023.
