Dance / Gerry's Attic
The Bristol dance company for older people
Founded in 2016, Gerry’s Attic is a senior dance theatre company based at Trinity Bristol, offering two weekly classes to over 55s with a passion for dance.
The group is led by Julia Thorneycroft, who began dancing as a child and has been working in the sector for her whole career, both as a dancer, director, programme leader and choreographer.
It was first inspired by a documentary about the Elders Company at Sadler’s Wells in London.
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Thorneycroft wondered if something similar might work in Bristol, and was later contacted by a member of the public keen to participate in this kind of group – thus, Gerry’s Attic was born.
Seven years on, and although they are always open to new faces, many of the original members are still dancing with the company. To date, Gerry’s has also collaborated with several renowned choreographers including Gary Clark, Laila Diallo, Charlotte Vincent, and Lea Anderson of The Cholemondeleys and The Featherstonehaughs fame.
A documentary film about the group, directed by Vicki Hearne and Chris Lewis Smith, has been shown at film festivals around the world.
For Thorneycroft, the company has endured because it has tapped into something that is allows “body, mind and soul to work together”; something, in other words, that is an intrinsic part of our common humanity.
As well as being fun and inclusive, it is a means of combating social isolation and improving self-esteem. Bristol24/7 spoke to Adrian and Elaine, two members of the company, to ask what participation had done for them:
Can you characterise what the power of dance unlocks for you?
A: “For me it’s a blend of emotion and physicality which is totally absorbing – a completely holistic way of relating to music which is much deeper than just aural.”
E: “I’ve always loved music and rhythm, and dance seems like a natural extension to that. It brings a strong sense of togetherness, because we have to rely on one another rather like being part of an orchestra. The combination of dance sessions, learning new movements, devising, workshops with guest choreographers and drawing all of that together into performance feels very creative and powerful for me.”
How would you describe the role of dance through your life? Was the passion always there for you?
A: “The passion was always there. Dance has always been my goto as an escape from demanding careers and my way of self-expression. I’ve never danced professionally but I have worked professionally as a teacher and choreographer.”
E: “I’d done very little dance, but saw a TV programme a few years ago about the group that had been set up for older dancers at Sadlers Wells in London and was totally inspired. When a friend told me she went to a similar group in Bristol I was desperate to give it a go. I had just had a replacement hip, but managed to join in some of it and loved it from the beginning.”
If you were going to recommend the experience of communal dance to a beginner, what would you say?
A: “I never enjoyed sports. I only understood teamwork when I began to work in the theatre – you are part of a group of people that are putting something together and performing it in public – taking the risk of creating something in an audience which none of us could do individually.”
E: “Join a group, see how you like it. Also, be prepared to put in the work, it can be challenging to coordinate all the bits of your body, some find it easier, but with practice it comes.”
Speaking personally, aside from the physical, what are the social and mental health benefits of dance?
A: “Gerry’s Attic is a great social group – people support each other and socialise together in an ongoing series of relationships.”
E: “It’s like the family you choose. As a company, we are quite close and very supportive of one another. During my time with Gerry’s, people have experienced health and family challenges, but dance demands a lot, both mentally and physically. I tend to forget any other problems I might have when I’m dancing.”
Classes are held at Trinity Centre twice weekly, on Mondays at Fyfe Hall from 5.50-7.15pm and on Fridays at 12-2pm in the Main Hall. Find out more about Gerry’s Attic at www.gerrysatticcom.wordpress.com.
All photos: Gerry’s Attic
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