Research

Baynes’ career as a dance artist and educator includes explorative arts-for-health research, creative/movement research, and academic research. Respectively, her primary focuses have been investigating the neurophysiological benefits of ballet in clinical settings, interdisciplinary collaboration, and instructional practices and ethics.

 

Harvard Graduate School of Education

Academic Writing, Master of Education (Ed.M.) Human Development and Education program within the Arts and Learning concentration

2024-2025

Baynes’ research examines how dance pedagogy can be enacted to provoke student performance potential and the role psychological safety plays in optimizing student outcomes

 

International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS)

Research Poster — 2021

Weekly ballet classes for individuals with diverse neurological conditions: a collaboration between physical therapy, medical, and dance students

Lead Author: Jessica Baynes

Co-authors: Karlie O’Brien MD Candidate, Andrea Hennig DPT

This presentation explores possible correlations between barre and increased mirror neuron activity, improved neuroplasticity, and the use of pedagogical imagery as effective external focus on motor control.

 

National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)

Conference Presenter — 2021

Including Musicians in Dance Spaces

Lead Presenter: Jessica Baynes

Co-presenters: Jared Oaks (Ballet West Orchestra Director), Nicholas Maughan (Ballet West Company Pianist)

This presentation outlines best practices for working with musical accompaniment in classical dance education settings.

 

National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)

Conference Presenter — 2021

Globalizing Accessible Dance Education: Equity & Inclusion as the Starting Point

Panelists: Jessica Baynes, Isabel Owens, Sarah Kausch

This presentation systemizes how to develop accessible dance programming with inclusion and equity as pillars of design, rather than as an adapted afterthought.

 

National Dance Education Organization (NDEO)

Conference Presenter — 2020

How Ballet Education Integrated Into Physical Therapy Enhances Recovery Through Community

This presentation discusses the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional benefits of using community practices in ballet education, by using dance in clinical settings as the example.

 

TEDx Salt Lake City

TEDx Speaker — 2019

How Ballet Integrated Into Physical Therapy Enhances Recovery

This presentation introduces the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional benefits of ballet education in clinical settings.

Photo by Jon Hague

 

United Nations Civil Society (UNCS)

Conference Presenter — 2019

Making the Exclusive Inclusive, One Step At A Time

Lead Presenter: Jessica Baynes

Co-presenters: Serena DeTata (Healing in Motion Dance Co-Director), Hannah Ronca (Healing in Motion Dance Co-Director)

This presentation highlights adaptive ballet as a sustainable community practice for upholding the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, specifically: Good Health & Wellbeing, Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, Industry Innovation & Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities & Communities, and Community Partnerships

 

“reBloom” Community Engagement Event

Director, Choreographer, Presenter — 2023

reBloom

Baynes recently choreographed, directed, and premiered “reBloom”— an interdisciplinary arts event awarded $15,000 by Salt Lake City Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that offers professional programming to young patients at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT.

Photo by Intermountain Health