30 years in pictures: Common Dance

For almost five years the team at gDA and artist Rosemary Lee had been discussing and developing ideas for a large-scale intergenerational work and in October 2009 this came to fruition.

Co-commissioned by Dance Umbrella and supported by ArtsAdmin and with a specially commissioned score by composer Terry Mann, the project involved a cast of around 100 performers ranging in age from 8 – 82 years including 50 non-professionals and professionals, (which included Rosemary’s small team of 4 professional and 4 apprentice dancers who assisted her and were also members of the cast) and over 50 children and teenagers from Finchley Music Group.  

Drawing on traditional English folk dance and music, the stage itself acted as a metaphorical common ground for the diverse performance group to come together. The primary aim of the project was to create a truly magical performance that would celebrate the fantastic qualities of gDA’s building whilst also demonstrating that high quality art and community engagement are natural bedfellows.  

“It was an absolute privilege to make a work for the beautiful iconic Upper Hall at GDA Borough Hall and to work alongside Brendan Keaney, Kat Bridge and the team then who were so amazing and supportive. Common Dance was a significant work for me, one of the most ambitious I have ever made. The work and all the dancers and collaborators remain a vivid presence in me. Common Dance has influenced everything I have made since and I am still in touch with many of the beautiful performers. ”

Rosemary Lee 

Rosemary later made an interactive DVD set about the Common Dance entitled On Taking Care.

Coincidentally, we recently bumped into Common Dance participant Alan. Now at the age of 96, Alan is still proudly wearing his purple gDA sweater and still speaks with affection about his experiences performing in Common Dance.