Fledgling course focusing on Irish dance proves successful for Limerick physio Róisín Cahalan
Physiotherapist Róisín Cahalan is thrilled by the response she has received from students around the world who are enrolled on a pioneering Health for Performance in Irish Dancers course.
A couple of months into running the postgraduate certificate course from her base at the University of Limerick, Róisín – who is widely acknowledged as the world's leading researcher in health and wellness issues in Irish dancing – pauses for breath to tell PhysioUpdate how the first months have gone.
‘I’m very pleased. It’s always difficult to know when you start something completely novel if there will be an appetite for it or not. I knew there was a need and interest, but whether that converted into applicants was anyone’s guess. The students in this cohort are incredibly interested and motivated to improve their practice and help their dancers, so it’s a real pleasure to teach.’
The 31 English-speaking students on the inaugural course hail from eight countries: Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, South Africa, United States, Wales and, of course, Ireland. Róisín hopes the current cohort will help to spread the net even wider when applications open next summer through word of mouth.
Impressive curriculum
Course director Róisín is quick to praise the network of colleagues and contacts who help to fill any gaps in the curriculum that she can’t cover personally. ‘I’m so grateful to have a whole panel of guest speakers who have given their time to this programme. I’m a physio and understand the complexities of Irish dancing, but to give the students the best possible experience, I have reached out to colleagues in a host of areas: diet and nutrition, psychology, podiatry, parenting in sport, sleep, strength and conditioning, law and ethics and even engineering.
‘So, while I lead a number of the topics, and support all the live sessions, I have been reliant on the generosity of colleagues from all around the world with expertise in areas where I am lacking.’
Uniquely, Róisín can draw on four decades of experience in Irish dancing, initially as a dancer, then as a teacher, adjudicator, physiotherapist and researcher, she revealed in an article appearing on the University of Limerick’s website.
From Riverdance to physiotherapy
Her CV boasts a lengthy spell as principal dancer in the international smash hit dance musical Riverdance, which raised her awareness of the ‘high level of injury in the art form and the complex collection of factors that drive better performance’. This triggered an interest in physiotherapy, and she went on to graduate in the profession at the University of Limerick in 2008.
‘Studying physiotherapy and working with dancers and teachers further convinced me of the many aspects of health and performance that are involved in building the best, most robust, most successful Irish dancer possible. The more I learned about other dance forms, sports, and health generally, the more convinced I became that we were missing huge pieces of the puzzle when it came to Irish dancing. Of course, all of this is driven by my great love for Irish dancing which is a large part of my identity.’
I knew there was a need and interest, but whether that converted into applicants was anyone’s guess. The students in this cohort are incredibly interested and motivated to improve their practice and help their dancers, so it’s a real pleasure to teach [Róisín Cahalan]
How many hours a week are the students expected to devote to the course?
‘In theory, the students are expected to spend about 12 to 15 hours each week on the programme. I take a “flipped classroom approach”, so all materials are pre-recorded and made available a week in advance. These is a suite of video presentations, as well as optional reading materials, podcasts and so on,' she explains.
In a weekly 90-minute live session students discuss learning experiences from the pre-recorded material and pose questions. They complete a brief exercise most weeks that contribute to a portfolio of work to be presented at the end of each semester.
Asked to give a flavour of a recent session, Róisín highlighted one led by Scott Murphy, a physiotherapist and strength and conditioning expert. ‘Scott has not only worked with Irish dancers for years but has also worked as an Olympic physio for the Irish swimming and boxing teams. He also works with elite cyclists, so has a wealth of experience of dealing with high-performing athletes.' The session was on stability, flexibility and balance in Irish dancing, Róisín explains.
‘Scott prepared a suite of theoretical and practical videos which were viewed by the students in advance. We then had a fantastic discussion about supporting these factors in Irish dancers. The discussions included supporting neurodiverse dancers who have challenges with sensory inputs, and how to address various injuries and issues. The live sessions are always highly interactive, with the students sharing their own experiences, tips and advice.’
How will Róisín encourage people to sign up for the next course?
‘My plan is to let the students do the talking for me. I hope they will agree to do a series of testimonials for me about the benefits of the programme, and what they have been able to integrate into their own practice.' The course will run from September 2025 to May 2026.
What's involved?
The students are currently engaged in a 15-credit module during the Autumn semester, with another module running in the Spring. Learning resources include live interactive sessions, recorded lectures, podcasts, videos and reading materials. The live sessions are held at various times to accommodate the international nature of the student group.
Sessions are recorded and made available on the module BrightSpace virtual learning environment. Peer learning is a part of the programme with students being encouraged to share their knowledge and work with colleagues. Assignments focus on reflecting on and embedding new material into the student’s existing dancer practice.
Topics include
Module 1
- key aspects of anatomy in Irish dancing and discussion of injuries that commonly occur at these sites
- guidance on basic injury management; principles of strength and conditioning, balance, stability and flexibility
- understanding appropriate load management; guidelines for cross-training, warm-up, cool-down and environmental preparation
- the complexity of the dancing adolescent and preparing an injured dancer to return to dance; emergency preparations for classes and competitive events
- finally, a dancer-led seminar provides insights into health and wellbeing strategies for success and longevity in Irish dancing
Module 2
- exploration of psychological performance and training issues, both from the perspective of the dancer, and the teacher and/or parent
- strategies to minimise stress, performance anxiety and engendering positive behaviour change in stakeholders
- nutrition and diet for Irish dancers, including how to fuel for competitive and performance events; ethical and legal obligations
- sleep, sleep hygiene and how to overcome jet lag and fatigue when travelling for competitions
- dynamics in the parent-dancer-teacher triad are examined, optimising communication and minimising conflicts
- supporting and retaining male dancers; health considerations of older recreational Irish dancers
- preparing for a career as a professional Irish dancer; footcare and footwear, including advancements in Irish dancing shoe technology
- finally, a panel of eminent Irish dancing leaders presents a seminar on health and wellbeing practices that have supported their success
- for more details about the modules, click
To read a University of Limerick Q&A article featuring course director Dr Roisin Cahalan, click
Find out more about Róisín’s background and range of professional interests in a PhysioUpdate article that appeared in May 2024. Click
Fees are currently set at €2,450 a year. Further information on fees and payment of fees is available from the Student Fees Office website.
Author: Ian A McMillan