Agency, and autonomy, how are senior professional dancers forging a presence within an ageist dance culture?

In today’s youth-obsessed consumer society, the ageist bias continues; a stance reflected within western dance culture, where the requirement for youthful and physically agile dancers is paramount. Consequently, the senior professional dancer, (aged over 40), has limited value (Siegel 1977: 234), and is often invisible and superfluous (Seymour In Newman 2014: 61). Indeed, little has changed since Jiří Kylián’s groundbreaking company ‘Nederlands Dans Theater 3’ (NDT3 1991-2006) was created for dancers over 40. Kylián’s appreciation of artistry garnered through ageing, made him question the ageism and waste of senior professional dancers he was witnessing in the industry. He observed the advantage of extending their careers through the creation of specific choreographic works that allowed the older dancer to shine. NDT3 made a significant impact within an ageist artform, regaining agency and autonomy. This was a paradigm shift. Inspired by NDT3, Dance On Ensemble Berlin 2015 spread the word that ‘dance and ageing’ could be seen as a positive construct. Funded by the German Federal government, eminent choreographers flocked to produce works for the company. DOE demonstrated there was an audience demographic which welcomed ageing positively represented on the stage, and was eager to see them perform. These are findings DOE continues to observe to the present day.

Significantly, The 2024 World Health Organisation’s Ageing and Health report, emphasised the importance of exercise and movement for wellbeing in the elderly. In response to this call, the benefits of community dance (Amans, 2013) have demonstrated how vital it is to keep the elderly fit and moving, proclaiming ‘dance’ as the zeitgeist to a healthy existence. However, there is little appreciation for senior professional dancers who wish to continue performing (Rustad; Engelsrud 2022: 8) due to limited opportunities. These dancers are determined to rebel against the prejudice instilled in the dance industry, highlighting that their life experience and artistry gives them agency, autonomy and a unique solidarity.