Dr Linda Ashley PhD, (University of Auckland), MA (University of London), BEd Hons (University of Liverpool, I M Marsh College) has extensive experience in dance, not only as a teacher, choreographer and performer but also in dance research. She recently retired as Research and Academic Leader, Senior Lecturer on the Bachelor of Dance degree at AUT University. Linda has been writing since 1996, and two of her books, 'Dance Sense' and 'Essential Guide to Dance', sell internationally. In 2002 she produced (under a New Zealand Ministry of Education curriculum materials development contract) the video, Dancing the Long White Cloud. Her ongoing research interest in the area of aging and dance comes to life occasionally as a performance dance monologue entitled, 'Several Decades in the Life of a Dolly Mixture: The youthansaia of dance'. Her doctorate thesis is at the cutting edge of investigating teaching of culturally diverse dances in education and is the topic for her new book to be published in 2012 'Dancing with difference: Culturally diverse dances in education'. For more information about Linda go to: http://www.lindaashleyphd.com