VCA Director Professor Emma Redding receives MBE for services to dance

A huge congratulations to Professor Emma Redding, who recently received her MBE for services to dance. The honour was bestowed by Princess Anne at a ceremony at Windsor Castle.

Originally trained as a dancer, Emma holds a PhD in Applied Biological Sciences from City University London, UK, an MSc in Sports Science from The University of Essex, UK and a BA (Hons) in Dance Theatre from Trinity Laban.

Emma was Head of Dance Science at Trinity Laban until 2022 and is now Director here at the VCA. She wrote the first Master’s degree in Dance Science and has since played a key role in developing dance science as a recognised field of study through her research and teaching internationally, as a founding partner of the National Institute for Dance Medicine and Science and as member of the Board of Directors and Past President of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science.

She is on the Research Advisory Board of Help Musicians UK, serves on the editorial boards and review committees of national and international research journals and funding councils and is currently Associate Editor for two international academic journals. Emma also serves on advisory and expert panels and offers consultancy to other higher education institutions in Europe, Asia and the United States on curricula development.

Dean of the Faculty Professor Marie Sierra says the honour is a fitting recognition of Emma’s contributions to dance in the United Kingdom, Australia and globally.

"The Faculty is delighted to see Professor Emma Redding’s significant contribution to dance recognised with an MBE," says Professor Sierra.

"She was awarded this honour just as she was being interviewed for the role of VCA Director, but the pandemic and her commitment to get to Melbourne to commence her work with us delayed her being able to have the honour formally bestowed. I am so happy that the work of a member of our creative community has gained such recognition, and that we have a leader like Emma contributing to our growth and development into the future."