Growing Older (Dis) Gracefully - Review

When we consider the current debate in the media and critical arena about the place (or rather lack of it) for older women in the arts, it is always cheering to see the more mature members of our society still participating in them. Kilmington Village Hall was the venue for such an event in the recent visit from Liverpool based dance company Growing Older (Dis)Gracefully.

The diversity of the company’s work was evident in the first two pieces in the programme – a charming tap routine to Singing in the Rain and Class, a more contemporary piece. The second showcased the talent of one of the more experienced dancers of the company, who performed an emotive solo in the opening of the piece. This was followed by Next, a witty look at the experience of waiting, which perhaps included a little too much over the top mime for my liking but was nonetheless entertaining. In particular, the interlude of a lone dancer on crutches was not only amusing and unexpected but technically impressive, in spite of the obvious physical disadvantage. The first half of the evening closed with Shimmer, an Indian styled piece full of wonderfully synchronised unison movement.

The second half began with a music performance by Christopher Benstead, a previous beneficiary of the Lisa Ullman Travelling Scholarship Fund which the evening was in aid of. Benstead highlighted the international side of this organisation, which helps so many dancers travel abroad to study, with his unique use of ethnic instruments. The following dance piece, inspired by Anthony Gormley’s instillation Another Place on Crosy Beach, brought us back to England. The image of the waves moving amongst the sculptures was not only clear in the choreography, but also visually stunning. We were left with an extract from the company’s first dance Where Past and Future are Gathered, which was another witty take on issues of age.

The evening as a whole was most enjoyable, and was a credit to the work of community and charitable dance organisations.