2025 HDC Research Award

2025 HDC Research Award recipient, Alyssa Hughes.

Congratulations to this year's recipient of the Healthy Dancer Canada research award Alyssa Hughes for the presentation Surveying the Silence: Exploring Mental Health and Psychological Skills Needs in Competitive Dance Training. The HDC research award is granted in recognition of a research quality and significance to Healthy Dancer Canada’s mission to empower dancers and all who engage with the art of dance by nurturing a culture of wellness within a vibrant dancing community.

Alyssa is a Master’s student at the University of Lethbridge in the Psychology for Active Living and Sport (PALS) Lab. Growing up as a dancer, she is passionate about bridging her academic background in kinesiology and psychology with her personal experiences in the arts. Her research focuses on understanding mental health in youth competitive dance and identifying ways to enhance resources and supports available to both dancers and educators. Alyssa is committed to advancing knowledge that helps foster psychologically safe and supportive environments in the dance community.

Congratulations, Alyssa, on your outstanding research achievements. We look forward to seeing what you do next.

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