Alumni stories: Yanling Sun

Yanling Sun graduated from the MSc Dance Science and Education programme in 2020. She reflects on how her studies at Moray House helped her become the first PhD graduate in Dance at the University of Otago in New Zealand.

Where are they now?

I have recently completed my PhD in Dance at the University of Otago in New Zealand, becoming the first PhD graduate in Dance at Otago. My doctoral research explored the relationship between installation art and dance, with a particular focus on how somatic practices influence choreographic processes and dancers’ embodied experiences.

During my PhD, I also worked as a tutor at the University of Otago and taught dance in a local dance school in Dunedin. My current work brings together dance research, teaching, creative practice and cross cultural performance studies.

My time at Moray House was an important beginning of my academic journey. Before studying at Edinburgh, I had strong dance training and performance experience, but the MSc Dance Science and Education programme helped me understand how to develop artistic interests into research questions, how to engage with literature, and how to write in a more critical and scholarly way.

The research skills and academic foundation I gained at Moray House continued to support me throughout my PhD. Even though my doctoral research later moved towards somatic practice, installation art and cross-cultural choreography, the training I received at Edinburgh shaped the way I approached research design, academic writing and embodied practice as scholarly inquiry.

Yanling holding flowers in front of a fancy building

‘I wanted to deepen my understanding of dance’

I chose the MSc Dance Science and Education programme because I wanted to deepen my understanding of dance beyond performance and technical training. I was interested in how dancers learn, how the body is trained and how scientific and educational perspectives can contribute to dance practice.

At that time, I was looking for a programme that could connect dance, research, pedagogy and embodied knowledge. The programme at Edinburgh offered exactly that, and it helped me begin to see myself not only as a dancer and practitioner, but also as a researcher.

‘Part of an international learning environment’

What I enjoyed most was the way the programme encouraged us to think critically about dance training, the body, health, education and performance. I appreciated the balance between theoretical study, research methods and discussions of practice.

I also valued being part of an international learning environment, where students came from different dance, educational and cultural backgrounds. This helped me reflect on my own Chinese dance training and begin to think more deeply about cross cultural approaches to dance education.

Valuable and essential skills

The most valuable skills I gained were research methods, academic writing and critical thinking. I learned how to frame a research question, how to review literature, how to structure an academic argument, and how to connect embodied practice with scholarly discussion.

These skills became essential during my PhD. Moray House helped me build the confidence to write academically in English and to position dance practice as a serious field of research.

Staying connected

Since graduation, I have continued to follow the work of the University and the Dance Science and Education community while developing my PhD research in New Zealand. More recently, I was very happy to reconnect with my former supervisor, Dr Wendy Timmons, and to reflect on how important Edinburgh has been in shaping my academic journey.

I have also stayed in touch with some of my classmates from the programme. As an international student, one of the most meaningful parts of studying at Edinburgh was meeting peers from different countries and dance backgrounds. These friendships and conversations helped me feel part of a wider international dance community, and they continue to be valuable to me after graduation.

‘Stay open, patient and reflective’

I would encourage future students to make the most of the programme’s interdisciplinary nature. It is not only a degree about dance science, but also a space to think about dance education, research, training, health, culture and embodied knowledge in a broader way.

I would also advise students to be proactive in connecting their own dance background with the academic tools offered by the programme. For me, one of the most important lessons was learning how to translate embodied experience into research language. That skill has continued to shape my work long after graduation.

My advice would be to stay open, patient and reflective. A degree in dance science and education can lead to many different pathways, including teaching, research, community practice, health-related dance work, performance studies and further academic study.

For those considering further study, I would encourage them to take time to identify the questions that truly matter to them. A strong research journey often begins with personal curiosity, but it also needs careful reading, methodological training and the ability to communicate ideas clearly.

Dancer holding a red piece of fabric on a black background

Dancer performing against a black background

From Moray House to a PhD

A major milestone for me was completing my PhD in Dance at the University of Otago. I became the first PhD graduate in Dance at Otago, and the University published a story about my doctoral journey and research.

I see this achievement as connected to my time at Moray House because Edinburgh gave me the academic foundation to become a researcher. The programme helped me develop the research skills, writing confidence and critical framework that later supported my doctoral study.

Interested in studying Dance Science and Education?

Gain a strong understanding of the science that supports and optimises various aspects of dance education, performance and research. Our students have access to top facilities and a wealth of research resources and archives, as well as opportunities to perform, choreograph and teach.

Learn more about the MSc Dance Science and Education