Dr. Peter Lovatt
Director
Dr Peter Lovatt is the Director of the Dance Psychology Lab. Dr Lovatt set up the Dance Psychology Lab to gain a better understanding of dance and dancers from a psychological and scientific perspective. To this end the Dance Psychology Lab aims to bring together researchers and people from a broad range of backgrounds who have an interest in dance and dancers.
Dr Peter Lovatt is a Reader in the Psychology of Dance and a Principal lecturer at the University of
Hertfordshire. Before starting on an academic career Peter was a
professional dancer.
Peter
studied Theatre and Creative Arts at East Herts College (1981-1983)
before training in dance and musical theatre at the Guildford School of
Acting (1983-1986). Peter was trained in Cecchetti ballet by Angela
Hardcastle and National dance and Pas de Deux by Robert Harold. Peter
also studied jazz, tap, historical and contemporary dance. After
graduating Peter worked in most of the UK’s number 1 theatres and on
the international dance circuit. He was a member of George Mitchell's
Minstrel Show, worked with choreographer Ray Cornell on Regent Cruise
ships and danced in panto at Richmond Theatre.
Peter left full
time theatre to study Psychology and English at the Roehampton
Institute, London, and graduated from the University of Surrey in 1993.
Following this he took an MSc in Neural Computation from the Centre for
Cognitive and Computational Neurosciences at the University of Stirling
in 1994 (funded by a SERC scholarship), and thereafter went on to do
doctoral research in the department of Psychology at the University of
Essex (funded by a University Teaching Fellowship). In 1998 Peter
joined the Research Centre for English and Applied Linguistics, at the
University of Cambridge, as a Senior Research Psychologist. After a
spell in industry, as a Principal Research Scientist for a speech-based
R&D company, he joined Kingston University, where he was the
co-ordinator of the Psychology Research Unit and Deputy Head of the
School of Social Sciences. Peter joined the School of Psychology at the
University of Hertfordshire in September 2004 and founded the Dance Psychology Lab in 2008.
Carine Lewis
PhD Student
Carine Lewis was awarded a full PhD scholarship in October 2008 after completing her BSc (Hons) degree in Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. Carine's PhD research examines the relationship between improvisation and cognition. In a series of experimental studies she has found that dance, music and verbal improvisation has specific effects on a wide range of convergent and divergent thinking tasks.
Carine has a keen interest in music (flute and piano) and she has worked extensively with people with autism.
Tracy Ashwood
PhD student & External Projects Coordinator 
Tracy Ashwood combines two roles within the Dance Psychology Lab. As a postgraduate student she carries out research which examines the benefits to psychological and social health of engaging in recreational dance activities, in both men and women across the lifespan. As the lab's External Projects Coordinator Tracy's role is to liaise with external clients where we have been commissioned to undertake user-led research.
Tracy tutors undergraduate students in Psychology at the University of Hertfordshire.
Ysabelle Taylor
Honorary Research Fellow
Shivani Sharma
Lecturer
Shivani Sharma graduated with a first class honors degree in Psychology from the University of Hertfordshire in 2006 and was subsequently awarded a PhD scholarship. Shivani joined the University as a lecturer in Health Psychology in 2009 and has been actively involved in the Dance Psychology Lab. Shivani is a member of a London based dance company, training in Indian Classical (Kathak) and Bollywood dance. Shivani’s research in the lab focuses on the psychological benefits of both recreational, and professional dance training. Shivani also has a background in working with children with special educational needs for over 7 years, and is also carrying out research in this area.
Claire Wellstead
Post graduate Researcher
Claire Wellsted has recently joined the Dance Psychology Lab as a postgraduate researcher. Claire left a career as a Business Analyst in 2009 to study an MSc in Psychology. As part of this course, she is researching the effects of recreational dance on psychological and physical health. Claire is aiming to take a broader view of the benefits of recreational dance for the general population by examining its effects on both men and women, with no particular health condition, and who have little or no dance experience. Having started dancing at the age of two, Claire has always had a passion for both participating in and watching any form of dance.