We live in an ageist society. Our fear of the natural human ageing process is constantly exploited, leading to a high turnover of not just anti-ageing cosmetics, but for every product; a new design, another change. Now, instead of restoring what once was, the weathering of an old building is used as a reason to demolish and revamp. This is not sustainable. Ageing is a process that is undeniable and unavoidable. So, why do we not start embracing what we cannot change?
One way of shifting the perspective on growing old is through dance, a way of Rechoreographing Structure. Janice Parker, an award-winning choreographer and independent dancemaker, talks of how dance does not only welcome the elderly but soothes the ageing process, improving agile ability and cognitive function. Hence, the proposal, Dance Because You Can, works towards creating an inclusive environment. This is primarily achieved through Layering and Transparency within the design, allowing dancers of any demographic to dance in or out of sight, depending on their comfort levels.
While the proposal seeks to celebrate the human ageing process, it also aims to embrace the weathering of the existing site; the King’s Theatre Fly Tower, Dundee, built in 1902. The project is an adaptive re-use, whereby all the external walls are restored and retained. While the activity of dance taking place within the design proposal works towards restructuring negative societal views, the proposal itself is a form of Rechoreographing the tangible. The proposed scheme works with the existing fabric, with the aim to improve both the sustainability of the project and the conservation of the past narratives that the old theatre stands for, making different time-frames fuse.
I invite you to continue to scroll to understand the key concepts of my project, Rechoreographing Structure // Dance Because You Can.
