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.
Wednesday 4th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 11th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 18th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 25th March 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 1st April 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday 8th April 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
(London Time)
Learn to Coach RP and SSBE – a Certificate in Accent Coaching
Louisa Morgan
This six-week course is an opportunity to learn about both Received Pronunciation and Standard Southern British English. Rather than a course in learning how to speak RP/SSBE (there are many brilliant available courses for this already), this course is about learning how to coach it.
Wednesday 18th March 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Facilitating Jaw Release Through Improved Habits of Stance and Alignment
Ruth Williams Hennessy
Are you a singer or speaker struggling with stubborn jaw tension that just won't quit? Even with elite training, the "stuck" jaw is often a symptom of a surprising culprit: your feet! Join Ruth Hennessy in this interactive workshop where she bridges the gap between podiatry and phonation, moving beyond "temporary fixes" to address the physical misalignments that bottleneck your performance.
Wednesday 25th March 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Mastering the Art of "Marking": Vocal Longevity for the Modern Singer
Jacob Wright
Don’t just save your voice—optimize it! Join Jacob Wright as he explores marking technique in singing, a vocal conservation strategy used by singers during rehearsals and extended performance periods. Marking involves singing at reduced vocal intensity, altered pitch, or modified vocal quality to preserve vocal health while maintaining musical and dramatic engagement. Participants will gain practical tools for implementing marking in their own practice, teaching, or clinical work, supported by current research and voice science principles!