Reflecting on the Power of Dance: Whatever Your Age
Over several days in the height of summer, the studios at the Jerwood DanceHouse were alive with energy, as our DanceEast Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) students immersed themselves in a week-long intensive in preparation for their End of Year Show.
Throughout the week, they worked tirelessly in our studios with a stellar cast of choreographers including Alleyne Dance, Ceyda Tanc Dance, Far From the Norm, Hofesh Shechter Company, Jess and Morgs, Motionhouse, and Yukiko Masui.
We decided to “mix it up” a little this year and invited Alleyne Dance to choreograph a piece of work for our youngest group of CAT students, and members of EncoreEast, an independent company of older dancers. Together, they created the first intergenerational piece to be included in a CAT End of Year Show. Featuring a cast aged from 10 to 84, their collaborative performance, Memories, explored connection, bridging generations through movement, storytelling, and shared experiences.
Over the past month, DanceEast has been fortunate to receive a wave of thoughtful press coverage, spotlighting the transformative work taking place thanks to this special project. The stories continue to resonate after the articles were published, and captured the core values that sit at the heart of DanceEast’s mission: a shared belief that dance is for everyone.
Bringing together EncoreEast and the young CAT students felt like a natural way to celebrate their different experiences and perspectives.
“There’s something powerful about seeing people of different ages dancing together.
Artistically, it creates such a rich dynamic; you get the fluidity and energy of youth alongside the depth and expressiveness that comes with age. Socially, it breaks down barriers.” – Tom Bowes, DanceEast’s Producer for Children and Young People, for Ipswich.co.uk
In an interview with Folk Features, Tom elaborated on the importance of bringing people together through dance:
“It encourages empathy, challenges assumptions about ability, and reminds us that dance isn’t just for one stage in life. It’s something that can stay with you forever.”
Creating Memories has also been the catalyst for forming friendships, like Diego and Terrell’s, who are aged 71 and 13. When ITV Anglia asked Diego what it was like working with the young CAT students he said: “They bring this special energy, amazing skills. They’re great company to be with. So for me, it was always going to be something very special.”
EncoreEast member Stella Eldon said: “Intergenerational dance creates a space to connect in ways that are often limited in wider society.” – Ipswich Star
A teaching experience, both in dance and in life:
For the CAT students, the project was a teaching experience, both in dance and in life. Tendai, aged 14, reflected on what this project has taught her:
“I’ve learned not all journeys have to start at the beginning, sometimes they begin with a return, a memory, or a spark of curiosity. At first we, as the CAT program, thought ‘how can this intergenerational dance be executed?’ but EncoreEast has shown that age doesn’t close doors, it opens new paths we never imagined in our youth.”
CAT student Poppy Evans, aged 12, echoed Tendai’s sentiment, saying she’s loved “being able to connect with others sharing the love of dance no matter what age”.
Tendai, and Jeanette, a member of EncoreEast, shared their experiences of the collaboration in interviews with both Simon Mayo on his Drivetime Show and Laura Locke at Felixstowe Radio. Speaking about the creative process with Alleyne Dance, they offered a glimpse into how meaningful this project had become for both the performers and the audience. The experience of creating and performing alongside each other will no doubt stay with them for years to come.
The End of Year show was a brilliant celebration of all the CAT students’ hard work, from the intensive week in the studio to the final moments on stage. We said goodbye to 12 graduates, including Eden, who begun as a reluctant 13-year-old and blossomed into a confident performer thanks to the programme. The training and sense of community that CAT provides has taught students like Eden valuable life lessons, beyond just dance technique.
“Meeting and speaking to people who I know get me for who I am has led me to make so many strong friendships.
I fully believe that CAT has granted me opportunities for my future that otherwise would have been almost impossible to access. Without their help, the options for my future would have been much different.” said Eden for Ipswich.co.uk.
We are certain that all our students will cherish the memories, friendships, and learning from this summer, shaping not just their dancing, but the way they move through the world.
Follow the DanceEast CAT on Instagram and Facebook
Find out more about the DanceEast CAT Centre for Advanced Training
