This reports my placement with Leap of Faith (LOF)[1] and Damn Fine Dance (DFD)[2] _Talent House in East London[3]. Before the moment I was assigned my placement, I asked myself, “What do I intend to do there? And what am I curious about?”
Introduction and Purpose
My first objective was to observe firsthand how working with active senior dance companies, particularly in the UK, works. I wanted to gauge the satisfaction of participants and see how choreographers interact with each other.
I collaborated with choreographer Molly, Trinity Laban graduate, and with her team, Damn Fine Dance. The venue was the Talent House in East London. Over email, she asked if I'd be interested in joining her morning community dance classes, and I was delighted to observe and collaborate on both. In the UK, community dance has been recognized as a social movement since 1997, and particularly since the early 2000s. My placement was also established during that time.
I first clarified my role with Molly. As it was a weekly meeting, I joined them in October and, as my English is still not fluent, I conducted important discussions via email. I conducted two sessions independently with DFD and decided to assist with LOF. I am usually familiar with recording and sharing; I actively seek permission to film and actively help with documentation without needing specific instructions. After each session, I recorded what I observed and felt. My observation points focused on noting participation levels during various activities and reviewing each participant's engagement and sense of belonging.
LOF in morning class is for those aged 60 and over, and the DFD is a small-scale performance group. I observed how the choreographer navigated between communication education and professional rehearsals. The choreographer clearly distinguished between community-based work and performance-based work. DFD had secured funding to acquire resources and as Molly (Lead choreographer) was leading the initiative, they were using the East Dance Studio she taught at, which they had rented.
The moment faced
Day 1 _10. Oct
This is my first time in East London. From the photos, I thought it was just a single dance hall, but it was a building complex with big and small studios.
At 10 a.m., the community dance session begins at LOF. Some twenty women over 60, all appearing to be in their, greeted one another with warmth, exchanging pleasantries as if they were long-standing acquaintances. Without hesitation, they began dancing naturally. Moving between seriousness and humour, they spent their time dancing joyfully, like teenage girls.
Their years were reflected in their bodies, marked by many wrinkles, yet that softness had accumulated time itself, rendering them remarkably flexible. For about ninety minutes, they improvised and moved, performing choreography to the music and doing couple dances like folk dances. In Korea, people are sometimes unfamiliar with expressing themselves and moving their bodies freely, which can make such moments feel sacred and serious, leading to deep emotion. While that aspect can be appealing, here the atmosphere is markedly different – laughter never ceases, like teenagers out for fun, creating a distinctly different vibe as they dance.
First Encounter with Damn Fine Dance
I met the group of eight dancers, and two members were absent. They were practically professionals. Choreographer Molly led one session, and the following feedback was almost expert level. DFD dancers shared feedback, personal reflections, and emotions without hesitation. What kind of background and experience do they have to reach this level? I'm very curious about them.
Day2_ 24.Oct
The second day's Leap of Faith – Dance for over 60s encounter with the dancers felt much more relaxed. Several Damn Fine Dance members also joined this morning's class. They acted as catalysts, helping the session flow more smoothly.
Today progressed from duet creation to group work. Everyone was serious and focused when presenting their work. How others perceive them isn't important. They simply concentrate harder, worried they might forget their sequence. They plan to create these scenes and become each other's audience for a showing this coming Christmas, so they're all full of anticipation. They already know the joy of performing.