BECOMING AN AFFIRMATIVE COMMUNITY: Mature dancers’ experiences in an age-aware contemporary dance class

Pirkko Markula; Allison Jeffrey; Jennifer Nikolai; Simrit Deol

doi:10.4324/9781003307624-25

BECOMING AN AFFIRMATIVE COMMUNITY: Mature dancers’ experiences in an age-aware contemporary dance class

Pirkko Markula
, Allison Jeffrey
, Jennifer Nikolai
, Simrit Deol

University of Alberta
Auckland University of Technology

Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Book chapter

Abstract

In this chapter, we explore the experiences of a group of seven mature women dancers (Initial 6) in a contemporary dance class. We first discuss relevant literature on the ‘idealisation of youthfulness’ in Western theatre dance, and then introduce Braidotti’s affirmative ethics to consider how a dance class, as a localised community, can create change in cultural construction ageing. After offering a detailed description of our qualitative methods, we reveal how the process of training in contemporary dance provided a context whereby the dancers could subvert ageism that excludes mature women dancers and reclaim space (and joy) in contemporary dance.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Dance on!
Subtitle of host publication	Dancing through Life
Editors	Stephanie Burridge, Charlotte Svendler Nielsen
Place of Publication	London, U. K.
Publisher	Taylor and Francis/ Balkema
Chapter	4.1
Pages	151-163
Number of pages	13
Edition	1st
ISBN (Electronic)	9781000882506, 9781003307624
ISBN (Print)	9781032310152
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003307624-25
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Taylor and Francis.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Arts and Humanities
General Social Sciences

Access to Document

10.4324/9781003307624-25

Cite this

BECOMING AN AFFIRMATIVE COMMUNITY: Mature dancers’ experiences in an age-aware contemporary dance class. / Markula, Pirkko; Jeffrey, Allison; Nikolai, Jennifer et al.
Dance on!: Dancing through Life. ed. / Stephanie Burridge; Charlotte Svendler Nielsen. 1st. ed. London, U. K.: Taylor and Francis/ Balkema, 2023. p. 151-163.

Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Book chapter

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BECOMING AN AFFIRMATIVE COMMUNITY: Mature dancers’ experiences in an age-aware contemporary dance class

Abstract

Bibliographical note

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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