The Integration of Voice and Dance Technique: Triple Threat or Double Trouble?
Thursday 20th June 2024, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM (London Time)
In the world of musical theatre, artists are required to combine the skills of singing, dancing, and acting, which has led to them being referred to as 'Triple Threat' performers. To sing and dance simultaneously requires a high degree of technique integration, but historically training in these disciplines has remained quite segregated. Traditional training methods in dance and voice reveal potential conflicts in areas such as postural alignment, muscle recruitment patterns, and breath mechanics, and in the absence of true integrative training methods, performers are often caught in the middle of these discrepancies, which can leave them vulnerable to injury.
In this session, we will explore these areas of conflict, examine the rationale for these pedagogical choices, and suggest areas for improvement of integration in both training and performance. Topics will include:
- An exploration of the muscle recruitment patterns in traditional dance training
- Highlighting the conflicts in breath mechanics between dance and voice techniques
- The importance of optimal sub-glottal pressure in musical theatre performance
- Common injuries associated with dance and voice technique integration
- Technique integration skills to optimise breath for safe vocalising and core stability for movement
- Suggestions for improving skill integration in pedagogical and performance settings
This session will highlight the key stumbling blocks faced by many musical theatre performers, examine the training and performance cultures in this field, and suggest ways to improve technique integration skills to protect the Triple Threat performers.
Jennie Morton
After a long performing career as a Ballet dancer, West End Musical Theatre performer, and lead singer of a London-based Big Band, Jennie is now an Osteopath specializing in Performing Arts Medicine. Now based in Los Angeles...
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Tuesday 28th October 2025
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
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Wednesday 29th October 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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Hilary Davies
In recent years, the music therapy profession has begun to consider the application of the neurodiversity paradigm to music therapy practice, in particular In relation to autism, and an increasing amount of literature embracing this perspective has been published. This lecture, delivered from a lived experience perspective, will provide an explanation of the key concepts around neurodiversity - particular consideration will be given to the use of the voice, both one's own but also to the neurodivergent individual’s particular ways of using language, song and vocal sounds.
Thursday 30th October 2025
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday 6th November 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 13th November 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 20th November 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday 27th November 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
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Gillie Stoneham
In this five-part course, join Gillie for a deep dive into coaching transgender voices, drawing on her specialist knowledge to deliver introductory and orientation material right through to professional competence and vocal coaching implications – and everything in between!