Profile

PhD candidate, researching dance as a form of cultural heritage, in Cardiff Metropolitan University. Research methods involve qualitative interviews, dance movements analysis and online ethnography.

Owner and editor for two sites about dance: www.worldbellydance.com and www.worlddanceheritage.org

Also worked for 7 and a half years in Cardiff University in a managerial and supervisory role, including project management. Experience of managing teams while working for Ofsted in Bristol, UK, and teaching as a lecturer in Hanguk University of Foreign Studies (Seoul, South Korea) and as a guest lecturer in Cardiff Metropolitan University (Cardiff, UK).

Teaching Experience

From January 2014 to present

Visiting Lecturer, Guest Lecturer, Hourly Paid Lecturer and Academic Associate – School of Sport, Cardiff Metropolitan University (Cardiff, UK)

Guest Lecturer in the Dance School module of 'Analytical and Contextual Studies' on the topic of Hybridism and Authenticity in Dance.

Hourly Paid Lecturer for marking for the module of Research Process.

Academic Associate classroom facilitator in the modules of: Research Process.

From November 2009 to present

Dance teacher and trainer - Self employed (Cardiff, UK)

Teaching Egyptian style belly dance classes. I have taught groups of up to 30 people, one to one classes, workshops and hen parties groups.

From July 2003 to July 2004

Lecturer – Italian Department, Hanguk University of Foreign Studies, (Seoul, South Korea)

Teaching Italian language and culture.

Publications

Lo Iacono, V. and Brown, D. H. K. (2016). ‘Beyond Binarism: Exploring a Model of Living Cultural Heritage for Dance', The Journal of the Society for Dance Research 34(1):84-105. doi: 10.3366/drs.2016.0147.

Lo Iacono, Valeria, Symonds, Paul & Brown, David H. K. (2016). Skype as a Tool for Qualitative Research Interviews. Sociological Research Online, 21/2: <http://www.socresonline.org.uk/21/2/12.html>

Conference Papers

• Is VoIP a Feasible Tool for Dance Research? Use of Skype for Qualitative Interviews on Dance as Transcultural Heritage. – DanceHE Symposium, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford, 7th April 2016.
• Can video sharing sites be valid platforms to archive, share and re-live dance as heritage? The case of Egyptian raqs sharqi. – Digital Echoes, Coventry University, Coventry, 4th March 2016.
• Can online videos be powerful tools to curate dance as a form of cultural heritage? The case of Egyptian raqs sharqi. – Presented at PopMoves, University of Roehampton, London, 24th October 2015.      

Work Experience – Non Teaching

July 2008 to February 2016

Placements Officer – School of Medicine, Cardiff University (Cardiff, UK)

Managerial role supervising members of staff and involved in project management. In charge of allocating clinical placements in hospitals throughout Wales for over 1,000 medical students. This role involves liaising and negotiating with various parties, including NHS and academics.

Nov 2005 to July 2008

Supervisor in the Inspection Support Team – Civil Service OFSTED (Office for Standards in Education – Bristol, UK)

01 Nov 2004 – 27 Sept 2005            

Bilingual Case Manager for Nortel - Convergys (Newcastle, UK). Outsourcing for customer Services.

Sep 2001 – June 2002

Sales agent  - Jurys Doyle Hotels, Central Reservations Office (Dublin, Ireland). Hotel chain. 

June 2001 – Sep 2001

Travel Organiser - Abbey Tours (Dublin, Ireland). Tour operator. Temporary position.

Sep 1999 – Sep 2000

Editor assistant Circa Art Magazine and Gallery Assistant at the Gallery of Photography, (Dublin, Ireland). 1-year contract, as part of the EU project Leonardo.

Education

·         PhD candidate in Dance and Cultural Heritage in Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK.

·         Master Degree in Tourism Economics & Management. University of Venice (Italy). Nov 2000 – Oct 2001.

·         First Class Honours Degree in Preservation of Cultural Heritage. University of Viterbo. (Italy). 1995 - 1999.

Languages

·         Italian native

·         English fluent

·         Spanish fluent

·         French beginner

Computing

Proficient in packages such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook & Access). Experience in the use of Lotus Notes, Dreamweaver, FTP, html, PhotoShop and QuarkXpress. Proficient in using Wordpress content management system to design websites.

Additional interests and qualifications

• Intermediate (approaching professional) level as a Belly dancer (practices twice a year in Egypt).
• Continuing development and training in other dance forms such as ballet, contemporary dance and dance therapy.
• Level 2 – Certificate in Teaching Exercise to Music from Fitness Wales.
• Level 2- Introductory Certificate in Team Leading from Training Services Wales LTD.