“Grace, vitality, physical wisdom, and a myriad of life experiences dwell in the bodies of older dancers. A lifetime of living, our personal journeys through the ups and downs of life, the many varied landscapes we have inhabited – through the power of experience the older dancer has many stories to tell and something very special to offer.

Striking Attitudes believes that the ageing body can still be a dancing body. Why should we stop dancing as our bodies change? The older dancer must have an equal chance to remain creative, to take part, to have the right to dance. We ask what it means to be a dancer as we age.

Striking Attitudes flies the flag for the mature dancer – we offer continuity of purpose and careers explored further, not terminated. We aim to be a force for change at a time when the number of older people in our society is rapidly growing and to be a voice for Wales by engaging in dialogues and partnerships that question the ageism endemic in our society.

Striking Attitudes considers those over 50 to be an under-represented group without equal opportunities and we strive to change this believing people of all ages benefit significantly from the creative/physical experience and social interaction. Our work extends the quality of life and makes a significant contribution to the concept of positive ageing and extends the quality of life.” 

Caroline Lamb, Artistic Director, Striking Attitudes

 

“The older dancer is not about being ’less’ of a performer but about being a ‘different’ performer – a performer with a depth of physical knowledge and life skills that can make for compelling and fascinating performances.”

Caroline Lamb, Artistic Director and Choreographer of Striking Attitudes 

What people have said about us

The Long Winter review by Steve Stratford

Steve Stratford reviewed Striking Attitudes’ performance: ‘A Long Winter’ at the 2015 Wales Dance Platform:

‘Day two ended with what could be my favourite work of the entire platform…a beautiful, delicate evocation of the ageing process, the fragility of life as we hurtle without escape toward the inevitable…The power of The Long Winter stayed with me long after I’d left the building. That, for me, is a haunting legacy to leave your audience.’

Read Steve Stratford’s full review here

Striking Attitudes in Arts Professional

Striking Attitudes was featured in ‘Arts Professional’ in 2013:

The production successfully challenged the public’s perception of the older dancer. It was clear that these performers were still viable and vital. 

 Read the full story here

Striking Attitudes in Dancing Times 

Striking Attitudes Artistic Director, Caroline Lamb, was interviewed for a feature in Dancing Time 2013

Read the full interiew here

BBC Publicity of Striking Attitudes’ Each For All, All For Each

Manic Street Preachers front man James Dean Bradfield is creating a soundtrack for a song with writer Patrick Jones that will end in a performance on the streets of Senghenydd called “Each for all, All for Each” by the Striking Attitudes Dance Company.

Each for All, All for Each marked the centenary of the Senghenydd mining disaster and is featured here in this BBC article from 2013. The production choreographed and directed by Artistic Director Caroline Lamb, featured text from Welsh poet and playwright Patrick Jones and music written by James Dean Bradfield of the Manic Street Preachers.

Reviews and Response to Once Upon A Time in the Dark, Dark Wood

A variety of reviews and features about the 2013 Striking Attitudes production:

‘The oldest member of the company is 67 yet we were lulled and delighted by their soft movement and particularly, by the way, the ensemble warmly related to each other’ – Michael Kelligan, Director and reviewer for Western Mail

‘Striking Attitudes accomplished the rare delight of presenting the magical as everyday.‘ – Buzz Magazine, Cardiff

Read the full Buzz Magazine review here

‘Lamb’s sections in this work speak most clearly, showing her experience as a maker, especially in the building of a language of dance motifs and in the use of music and text, references cleverly inter-woven to create a dark, fairy tale ambiance – but these are fairy tales for the other end of life – for the fearful time before death, a place of symbols and lessons echoing in memory and pulling at the unconscious, a cross-hatching of images, both aural and visual, that reveal Lamb’s experience as a movement director for opera.’ – Jenny March, Theatre Wales

‘A great pleasure to see such experienced performers bringing maturity and meaning to the stage.’ – Geoff Moore, Moving Being Productions

‘Congratulations on a stunning piece of work.‘ –Sara Beer, Director and Producer

‘It really was superb. The best thing I’ve seem for a long while. It re-instilled my faith in local work. My congratulations. Fantastic work’ – Chris Durnall, Theatre Director

‘A beautifully atmospheric piece.‘ – Chris Morgan, Director and Actor.

‘This was enthralling – such a theatrical and well-conceived production, congratulations.‘ – Lynn Hoare, Audience.

‘Absolutely mesmerising.‘ – Amanda L Jones, Audience.

Western Mail double page feature of Striking Attitudes’ Footfalls

A two-page feature by Abbie Wightwick about Striking Attitudes and the making of the Footfalls film appeared in the Western Mail in November 2011. Abbie visited the ladies of Cofio dance group who participated in the film:

“I never thought I’d dance at the top of a mountain at 92,” says Nell Cooper, talking to Abbie about her experience during the filming of Footfalls.

The feature goes on to say: “Nell, who will be 93 in a few months, says she never dreamed she’d be in a film but she was determined to get to the top of Maerdy Mountain. “Well, I love dancing,” she adds by way of explanation. “I’ll never stop.”

Read the full story here

S4C TV reviews Striking Attitudes’ Three Parts Iced Over

‘It’s excellent- so simple, so complex, so wonderful. Go and see it, please. The network of emotions that runs through it is marvellous. A wonderful marriage of movement and the spoken word. It was so gripping. Everyone must go and see it.’