When Noosa community dance artist Gail Hewton decided to challenge notions of ageism and ageing through a film titled, In a Different Space, little did she know it would go global.
The film celebrates the dance stories of people aged 60 to 101 years from novices to professional dancers with a range of physical abilities and conditions.
“The idea for this project emerged from the strong relationship I have built with my community dance participants over several years,” Gail said.
“Over time I have discovered many rich and amazing stories of my dancers and felt the world needed to hear them or should I say see these stories through the creativity and joy of dance.
“Dance is most often seen as the domain of the young and it’s time such perceptions and expectations are changed – dance is possible for everyone including older people and those with mobility restrictions and issues.”
The dance participants were filmed away from usual dance places but in spaces that held meaning for them.
Since its completion the film has been selected for six international film festivals in the US, Canada, Brazil and Noosa.
Gail shared the film with dance colleagues at the People Dancing’s International Summer School in the UK. From there she was invited to screen it at the Tipperary Dance Festival’s Dance and Health Symposium in Ireland and at Burton-on-Trent’s International Day of Older Person’s celebrations.
Summer school director Anna Leatherdale described it as combining beauty, humour, serenity and cheekiness in equal measure.
“Anyone who feels themselves growing older should watch this film,” she said.
In Australia the film has screened at the film at the inaugural Arts and Health Queensland Network Forum in Brisbane and Ausdance NSW’s Creative Ageing Forum in Sydney.
She will present it as part of the Speakers Program at Woodford Folk Festival in December.
