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Phone: : (+61 8) 9433 0974 |
Luke Hopper became interested in biomechanics during his training as a classical ballet dancer and in 2011 Luke completed his Australian Postgraduate Award funded PhD investigating the influence of dance floor mechanical properties on dancer injury rates, perceptions and landing mechanics at the University of Western Australia. Luke joined the School of Health Sciences at the University of Notre Dame Australia in 2010 as a lecturer of exercise, musculoskeletal and clinical biomechanics.
Luke’s research involves the application of methods used in sport science and clinical biomechanics to assess mechanisms for injury and performance in elite dancers. Throughout his PhD candidature Luke has worked with the several international ballet companies and universities from Australia and the UK. Luke’s work has been commended by the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science as the first dual recipient of the student research in both 2007 and 2009. For a list of potential postgraduate research projects available under Luke’s supervision please look at the ‘Student projects’ tab HERE.
Publications:
Hopper, L. S. (2011). Dancer injury rates, perceptions and landing mechanics on dance floors with varied mechanical properties. Doctoral Thesis, University of Western Australia, Perth. Available from http://repository.uwa.edu.au:80/R/-?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=30113&silo_library=GEN01
Hopper, L., Alderson, J., Elliott, B., Ackland, T. & Fleming, P. (2011) Dancer perceptions of quantified dance surface mechanical properties. Proc. IMechE Vol. 225 Part P: J. Sports Engineering and Technology. 225, 65-73.
Alderson, J., Hopper, L., Elliott, B., & Ackland, T. R. (2009). Lower back injury risk factors for male dancers performing classical ballet lifts. Journal of Dance Medicine & Science, 13(3), 83-89.
Conference proceedings
McEldowney, K., Hopper, L. & Redding, E. Fatigue effects on quadricep/hamstring co-activation patterns in dancers performing drop landings. Paper presented at the 21st Annual meeting of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science. Washington DC, USA.
Hopper, L., Alderson, J., Elliott, B. &Ackland, T. R. (2011) Floor surfaces and injury risk; Changes in dancer landing mechanics on varied dance surfaces. Paper presented at the Australian conference for science and medicine in sport. Fremantle, Australia. Abstract
Hopper, L., Alderson, J., Elliott, B., Ackland, T. R. & Fleming, P. (2010) Dancer perceptions of varied dance surfaces quantified by the Advanced Artificial Athlete. Paper presented at the 2nd Conference of Science, Technology and Research into Sport Surfaces, Loughborough University, UK. Abstract
Hopper, L., Allen, N., Wyon, M., Alderson, J., Elliott, B. & Ackland, T. R. (2009). Ballet dancer injuries rates during rehearsal and performance on varied dance surfaces. Paper presented at the 27th International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports, Limerick, Ireland. Abstract
Elliott, B., Alderson, J., Ackland, T. & Hopper, L. The art athlete: A sports biomechanics perspective. Paper presented at the 26th International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports, Seoul, Korea. Abstract
Hopper, L., Alderson, J., Elliott, B. & Ackland, T. R. Lumbar forces in male dancers during classical ballet lifts. Paper presented at the 17th Annual Meeting of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, Canberra, Australia.
Domestic and international collaborations
The Australian Ballet School
Birmingham Royal Ballet Company, UK
Royal Ballet Company, UK
Laban Conservatoire of Dance, UK
University of Loughborough, Department of Civil and Building Engineering, UK
University of Wolverhampton, School of Sport, Performing Art and Leisure, UK
British Harlequin Sprung Dance Floors, UK
Professional Memberships
International Association for Dance Medicine and Science (Media committee member)
International Society of Biomechanics
Australian and New Zealand Society of Biomechanics
Sportsurf network