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HomeAcademic staffDr Stephen Dance
Dr Stephen Dance

Dr Stephen Dance

dances@lsbu.ac.uk

Civil and Building Services Engineering

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7285-9058 (unauthenticated)

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I am a leading authority on environmental and architectural acoustics. I have written more than 100 scientific papers on architectural acoustics, environmental noise, speech intelligibility, electro-acoustics, sound absorbing materials, metamaterials, urban wind turbines, mathematical modelling, computer simulation, classroom acoustics, and noise exposure. I have taught at the Institute of Sound and Vibration, and at the Royal Academy of Music. I sit on boards and committees for professional bodies, government ministries, and international bodies. I am currently the acoustic advisor to the Royal Opera House.

Environmental Noise: Leading a project with Wandsworth Council on the Noise Emissions from London Heliport. Assessed the noise and vibration from Strata Tower Urban Wind Turbines. Created the Quiet Project on the effect of COVID Lockdown on environmental noise. Partnered with Foster + Partners on Listening to London project.

Architectural Acoustics: Developed mathematical models to predict the sound field in enclosed spaces. Redesigned the PA/VA system of London Underground with Marconi/Telent. Redesigned the orchestra pit for the Royal Opera House. Refurbished Henry Wood Hall to rebalance the acoustic. Developed the sound absorbing mirror for the Royal Academy of Music. Optimised the design of classrooms for the teacher.

Sound Exposure: Assessed the music exposure of the students of the Royal Academy of Music, the choristers of St Paul's Cathedral, and the musicians of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Produced guidance for the BBC on music exposure. Co-Founded the Hearing Conservation Association.

Chair the Institute of Acoustics Research Coordination Committee. Chair the Institute of Acoustics Musical Acoustics Committee. Chair the Building Regulation review for noise for the Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government. Member of the Institute of Acoustics Membership Committee. International Member for the Newman Trust

Courses taught

Environmental and Architectural Acoustics - MSc

Acoustics Technician Apprenticeship

Postgraduate Research Supervision
Current
Mr Ekim BakirciDoctoral Research ProjectPhD
Mr Alexander Toshkov KorchevDoctoral Research ProjectPhD
Mr Eric BallesteroOVERHAULING SOUND DIFFUSION IN AUDITORIA USINGDEEP-SUBWAVELENGTH ACOUSTIC METAMATERIALSPhD
Mr Douglas John ShearerCase Studies in the Absorption of Low Frequency Sound in Music RoomsPhD
Mr Rodrigo Sanchez-PizaniDoctoral Research ProjectPhD
Mr Rubén Vázquez AmosDoctoral Research ProjectPhD
FunderYear wonProjectRole
St Paul's Cathedral2022St Paul's Music Exposure StudyPrincipal Investigator
Innovate UK 2022Paediatric Music-based AudiometryPrincipal Investigator
The Royal Opera House2022ROH Sitzprobe projectPrincipal Investigator
KPMG2021KPMG- LeadershipPrincipal Investigator
Royal Academy of Music2020Audio Testing RAM 2Principal Investigator
Royal Academy of Music20212021- H667_Consultancy_RAM_Audiometric Services Principal Investigator
Royal Academy of Music2020Audiometric Services Principal Investigator
Siemens2020Siemens PA Design Principal Investigator
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)2020EPSRC UK Acoustics Network PlusPrincipal Investigator
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)2018UK Acoustics NetworkPrincipal Investigator
Royal Academy of Music2019Audiometric Services Principal Investigator
ENTR General Business Development Opportunities CH2017SCi082_BEA_short course_IOA_certificate on competence Oct 2017Co-Investigator
Wandsworth Borough Council2017SCI066_BEA_Wandsworth Council_Heliport Noise MonitoringPrincipal Investigator
ENTR General Business Development Opportunities HT2016SCi046_BEA_other_IOA certificate of competencePrincipal Investigator
The Royal Opera House2017PGR_002_BEA_STU_RoyalOperaHousePrincipal Investigator
make relations GmbH2017CDEI_018_FilmHire_Make Relations_AcousticChambersPrincipal Investigator
ProposalProjectRoleFunderStatusStatus last updated
Air-Source Heat Pump Noise and Permitted Development Rights In WalesAir-Source Heat Pump Noise and Permitted Development Rights In WalesCo-InvestigatorWelsh GovernmentOPEN Approved for submissionDec 2022
TERCTERCPrincipal InvestigatorEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)OPEN In preparationMar 2024
2021- H667_Consultancy_RAM_Audiometric Services 2021- H667_Consultancy_RAM_Audiometric Services Principal InvestigatorRoyal Academy of MusicOPEN Approved for submissionNov 2021
Siemens PA Design Siemens PA Design Principal InvestigatorSiemensOPEN Approved for submissionMay 2020
Institute of Acoustics
2020
Institute of Acoustics
2019
Acoustical Society of America
2013
Prizes, awards, and accolades

Schultz Prize (Jun 2008)

Newman Fund

Schultz Prize for Education in Architectural Acoustics


Mentoring Prize (Jun 2012)

Acoustical Society of America

Student decided prize


Tyndall Medal (May 2014)

Institute of Acoustics

Best young researchers for applying acoustics to music


Evidence to public body

Sep 2018

Chair of Building Regulations (Noise) Review


Reach and Impact

Quietest Place in London (Apr 2019)


Acoustics of a Sitzprobe rehearsal
Dance, S. (2023). Acoustics of a Sitzprobe rehearsal. INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings. 268 (8), pp. 68-73. https://doi.org/10.3397/in_2023_0031

The Art of Being an Acoustician
Dance, S. (2023). The Art of Being an Acoustician. Institute of Acoustics Bulletin. 49 (4), pp. 30-31.

Hearing assessment of students of a music conservatoire using otoacoustic emissions
Dance, S. and Zepidou, G. (2023). Hearing assessment of students of a music conservatoire using otoacoustic emissions . 14th International Conference on the Biological Effect of Noise. Belgrade, Serbia 18 - 22 Jun 2023 ICBEN.

Results from The Quiet Project - UK Acoustic Community's response to Covid-19
Kowalik, H., Dance, S. and McInyre, L. (2023). Results from The Quiet Project - UK Acoustic Community's response to Covid-19. Inter-Noise 2022. Glasgow 21 - 24 Aug 2022 Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE). https://doi.org/10.3397/in_2022_0392

Effect of Face Masks on Speech Intelligibility
Vazquez Amos, R., Green, J., Dance, S., Thomas, J., Gohil, H., Telford, J. and Mapp, P. (2022). Effect of Face Masks on Speech Intelligibility. Inter-Noise 2022. Glasgow 21 - 24 Aug 2022 Institute of Noise Control Engineering (INCE). https://doi.org/10.3397/in_2022_0396

Acoustics Of Classrooms
Dance, S. and Ballestero, E. (2022). Acoustics Of Classrooms. Frontiers for Young Minds. 10, p. 804634. https://doi.org/10.3389/frym.2022.804634

Teaching acoustic during a pandemic: Lab in a Box for experiments at home
Dance, S. (2022). Teaching acoustic during a pandemic: Lab in a Box for experiments at home. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. 151 (4). https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0010042

Hybrid flexible (HyFlex) seminar delivery – A technical overview of the implementation
Sanchez-Pizani, R., Detyna, M., Dance, S. and Gomez-Agustina, L. (2022). Hybrid flexible (HyFlex) seminar delivery – A technical overview of the implementation. Building and Environment. 216, p. 109001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109001

Scattering Evaluation of Equivalent Surface Impedances of Acoustic Metamaterials in Large FDTD Volumes Using RLC Circuit Modelling
Ballestero, E., Hamilton, B., Jiménez, N., Romero-García, V., Groby, J., Aygun, H. and Dance, S. (2021). Scattering Evaluation of Equivalent Surface Impedances of Acoustic Metamaterials in Large FDTD Volumes Using RLC Circuit Modelling. Applied Sciences. 11 (17), p. e8084. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11178084

Attack Of The Drones’ Exploration Of The Sound Power Levels Emitted And The Impact Drone’s Could Have Upon Rural Areas
Dance, S. and Nixon, N. (2021). Attack Of The Drones’ Exploration Of The Sound Power Levels Emitted And The Impact Drone’s Could Have Upon Rural Areas. Inter-Noise 2021. On-line 01 - 05 Aug 2021

Teaching Acoustics under COVID: Lab in a Box for Experiments at Home
Dance, S. (2021). Teaching Acoustics under COVID: Lab in a Box for Experiments at Home. Inter-Noise 2021. On-line 01 - 05 Aug 2021

Research project to reduce the sound level in the pit
Dance, S. (2021). Research project to reduce the sound level in the pit. London South Bank University.

The Quiet Project – UK Acoustic Community’s response to COVID19 during the easing of lockdown
Dance, S. and McIntyre, L. (2021). The Quiet Project – UK Acoustic Community’s response to COVID19 during the easing of lockdown. Noise Mapping. 8 (1), pp. 32-40. https://doi.org/10.1515/noise-2021-0003

Flexible control of acoustic conditions in a music rehearsal space using airbeds
Shearer, D, Dance, S, Gomez-Agustina, L and Randell, J (2021). Flexible control of acoustic conditions in a music rehearsal space using airbeds. Applied Acoustics. 173, pp. 107708-107708. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2020.107708

The Sound of the Drone Uprising – Aeroacoustics of Drone Blades
Nixon, J. and Dance, S. (2020). The Sound of the Drone Uprising – Aeroacoustics of Drone Blades. Quiet Drones. Paris 17 - 21 Oct 2020

Sound exposure of staff at a conservatorie
Dance, S., Shearer, D. and Zepidou, G. (2020). Sound exposure of staff at a conservatorie. "Acoustics 2020" Institute of Acoustics Virtual Annual Conference. On-line 05 - 09 Oct 2020 Institute of Acoustics.

Measurement of Absorption Coefficients to ISO354 using Tall Sources and Microphones
Dance, S. (2020). Measurement of Absorption Coefficients to ISO354 using Tall Sources and Microphones. Inter-Noise 2020. e congress 23 - 26 Aug 2020 The Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering.

London heliport: Noise emissions and the effect on local residents.
Dance, S. and Gomez-Agustina, L. (2020). London heliport: Noise emissions and the effect on local residents. Noise & health. 23 (108), pp. 21-34. https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.NAH_25_20

Quality evaluation of microphones used for lecture captures in universities
Sanchez-Pizani, R., Dance, S., Gomez-Agustina, L. and Mapp, P. (2019). Quality evaluation of microphones used for lecture captures in universities. Institute of Acoustics: Reproduced Sound. Bristol, UK 19 - 21 Nov 2019

Face the Music: A 12 year study of the sound of performance and hearing of classical music
Dance, S., Shearer, D. and Zepidou, G. (2019). Face the Music: A 12 year study of the sound of performance and hearing of classical music. International Congress on Acoustics. Aachen, Germany 09 - 13 Sep 2019

Experimental validation of deep-subwavelength by diffsuion by acoustic metadiiffusers
Dance, S., Ballestero, E., Aygun, H., Jimenez, N., Groby, J-P. and Romero-Garcia, V. (2019). Experimental validation of deep-subwavelength by diffsuion by acoustic metadiiffusers. Applied Physics Letters. 115 (8). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5114877

Sound absorption characteristics of air laid non-woven feather mats
Dance, S, Dieckmann, E, Sheldrick, L and Cheeseman, C (2019). Sound absorption characteristics of air laid non-woven feather mats. Inter-Noise. Madrid 16 - 19 Jun 2019

Henry Wood Hall: The creation of a flexible acoustic using airbeds.
Shearer, DJ, Gomez-Agustina, L, Ballestero, E and Dance, S (2019). Henry Wood Hall: The creation of a flexible acoustic using airbeds. Inter.Noise 2019 - the 48th International Congress and Exhibition on Noise Control Engineering. Madrid, Spain 17 - 21 Jun 2019

Henry Wood Hall: The Creation of a Flexible Acoustic Using Airbeds
Shearer, D J, Gomez-Agustina, L, Ballestero, E and Dance, S (2019). Henry Wood Hall: The Creation of a Flexible Acoustic Using Airbeds. Internoise 2019. Madrid, Spain 16 - 19 Jun 2019

A new kind of low frequency absorber design suitable for music recital halls
Dance, S, Shearer, D and Menin, P (2019). A new kind of low frequency absorber design suitable for music recital halls. Acoustics 2019. Milton Keynes 13 - 14 May 2019

Post occupancy perception of acoustics, ventilation and overheating within residential dwellings
Dance, S and Coleman, K (2019). Post occupancy perception of acoustics, ventilation and overheating within residential dwellings. Acoustics 2019. Milton Keynes 13 - 14 May 2019

Sound exposure of choristers
Dance, S. and Zepidou, G. (2020). Sound exposure of choristers. Noise and Health. 21 (98). https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.NAH_40_19

Acoustic conditions in orchestra pits: are metadiffusers a potential solution?
Dance, S, Ballestero, E, Shearer, D and Aygün, H (2018). Acoustic conditions in orchestra pits: are metadiffusers a potential solution? Auditorium Acoustics 2018. Hamburg, Germany 04 - 06 Oct 2018

Novel sound absorption materials from air laid non woven feather fibres
Dance, S, Dieckmann, E, Sheldrick, L and Cheeseman, C (2018). Novel sound absorption materials from air laid non woven feather fibres. Heliyon. 9 (4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00818

Noise and Vibration from Urban Wind Turbines
Dance, S and Dymock, B (2018). Noise and Vibration from Urban Wind Turbines. 47th International Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering. Chicago, USA 26 - 30 Aug 2018 London South Bank University.

Community response from noise emissions from London heliport operation
Gomez-Agustina, L and Dance, S (2018). Community response from noise emissions from London heliport operation. International Conference on Sound and Vibration. Hiroshima, Japan 08 - 12 Jul 2018

Towards a Novel Acoustic Absorber Using a Magnetically Induced Geometric Nonlinearity in an Elastic Membrane
Shearer, DJ, Dance, S, Gomez-Agustina, L and Randell, J (2018). Towards a Novel Acoustic Absorber Using a Magnetically Induced Geometric Nonlinearity in an Elastic Membrane. Euronoise 2018, the 11th European Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering. Crete, Greece 27 - 31 May 2018 EAA-HELINA.

An investigation of the noise from London Heliport and the Effect on the Local Residents
Dance, S and Gomez-Agustina, L (2018). An investigation of the noise from London Heliport and the Effect on the Local Residents. The 11th European Congress and Exposition on Noise Control Engineering. Crete 27 - 31 May 2018 EAA-HELINA.

A methodology to objectively assess the performance of sound field amplification systems demonstrated using fifty physical simulations of classrooms
Dance, S, Backus, B and Morales, L (2018). A methodology to objectively assess the performance of sound field amplification systems demonstrated using fifty physical simulations of classrooms. Noise and Health. 20 (94), pp. 77-82. https://doi.org/10.4103/nah.NAH_87_16

Singing and loudness: a short study with the royal opera house
Dance, S, Bernays, J and Liu, S (2018). Singing and loudness: a short study with the royal opera house. Institute of Acoustics - Acoustics 2018. Cardiff 23 - 24 Apr 2018

Specialist Interest Group in Rooms and Comms - Challenges in Acoustics
Dance, S (2018). Specialist Interest Group in Rooms and Comms - Challenges in Acoustics. Institute of Acoustics, Acoustics 18. City Hall, Cathays Park, Cardiff 23 - 23 Apr 2018

Urban Wind Turbines: A feasibility study
Dance, S and Dymock, B (2018). Urban Wind Turbines: A feasibility study. CIBSE Technical Symposium 2018 Stretching the envelope. London 12 - 13 Apr 2018

A revised speech spectrum for STI calculations
Morales, L, Leembruggen, G, Dance, S and Shield, B (2017). A revised speech spectrum for STI calculations. Applied Acoustics. 132, pp. 33-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apacoust.2017.11.008

London Battersea Heliport Noise Monitoring
Dance, S. and Gomez-Agustina, L. (2017). London Battersea Heliport Noise Monitoring. Wandsworth Council.

London Battersea Heliport Noise Subjective Survey
Gomez-Agustina, L. and Dance, S. (2017). London Battersea Heliport Noise Subjective Survey. Wandsworth Council.

Impact that Acoustic Design has on Higher Education for Non-English Speaking Students
Dance, S and Sanchez-Pizani, R (2017). Impact that Acoustic Design has on Higher Education for Non-English Speaking Students. International Congress on Sound and Vibration. London 23 - 27 Jul 2017

An Investigation into the Effect of Acoustics on Vocal Strain of Opera Singers
Dance, S and Okten, G (2017). An Investigation into the Effect of Acoustics on Vocal Strain of Opera Singers. Internationl congress on Sound and Vibration. London 23 - 27 Jul 2017 London South Bank University.

Face the Music: A before and after study of the hearing acuity of Classical music students
Dance, S (2017). Face the Music: A before and after study of the hearing acuity of Classical music students. International Congress on Sound and Vibration 24. London 23 - 27 Jul 2017

Head-tracked auralisations for a dynamic audio experience in virtual reality sceneries
Ballestero, E, Robinson, P and Dance, S (2017). Head-tracked auralisations for a dynamic audio experience in virtual reality sceneries. 24th International Congress on Sound and Vibration. London 23 - 27 Jul 2017

Measuring absorption below 100Hz with a particle velocity-pressure sensor
Shearer, DJ and Dance, S (2016). Measuring absorption below 100Hz with a particle velocity-pressure sensor. INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings,. Hamburg, Germany 21 - 24 Aug 2016 pp. 3678-3688

Facing the music: Helping classical musicians comply with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations
Dance, S (2016). Facing the music: Helping classical musicians comply with the Control of Noise at Work Regulations. Inter-Noise 2016. Hamburg 21 - 24 Aug 2016 pp. 6876-6882

The suitability of additive manufacturing materials in a 1:10 scale reverberation chamber
Brown, S and Dance, S (2016). The suitability of additive manufacturing materials in a 1:10 scale reverberation chamber. INTER-NOISE. Hamburg, Germany 21 - 24 Aug 2016 pp. 4149-4159

A comparison of the hearing acuity of classical musicians
Dance, S (2016). A comparison of the hearing acuity of classical musicians. Acoustics Bulletin. 41 (2), pp. 43-46.

Noise reduction in commercial refrigerators - a practical approach
Marques, A. C., Gomez-Agustina, L., Dance, S., Hammond, E. and Wood I. (2013). Noise reduction in commercial refrigerators - a practical approach . 20th International Congress on Sound and Vibration. Bangkok, Thailand 07 - 11 Jul 2013