At the Byre Theatre in St Andrews, Company Chordelia presents ‘Revel,’ a production that transforms traditional dance warm-ups into a narrative reflection on a performer’s life. The show serves as both a humorous and thoughtfully balanced examination of the inevitable physical tolls—aches, sprains, and declining flexibility—that accompany aging in the dance world.
Artistic director Kally Lloyd-Jones conceived and staged the piece, appearing alongside co-creator Steinvör Palsson, a prominent figure in the Scottish dance community known for her work as a teacher and choreographer. The performance acts as a personal rebuttal to the societal pressure on dancers to retire precisely when they feel their best, challenging the fear of becoming a public spectacle by continuing to perform later in life.
Lloyd-Jones and Palsson utilize the structure of a rehearsal routine to guide the audience through a reverie about the stage experience, highlighting the resilience required to pursue dance beyond the conventional retirement age.
Does the play offer practical advice for older dancers, or is it purely narrative performance art?
I assumed this would be somber, but the humor makes it so much more powerful. Loved every minute!
Finally, a show that respects the aging body instead of hiding it. Beautifully brave storytelling from Chordelia.