Revel review – broken Barbies and a splash of Swan Lake as older dancers limber up
Company Chordelia's performance Revel, created by and starring artistic director Kally Lloyd-Jones and choreographer Steinvör Palsson, explores the physical and emotional realities of ageing dancers preparing for a show. The piece serves as a thoughtful response to anxieties about performing beyond one's prime, celebrating the continued vitality and artistry of older dancers rather than endorsing retirement.
The show unfolds over a nine-hour countdown in a dressing room, opening with the performers emerging from unlikely hiding spots before proceeding through their distinct warm-up routines—Palsson's serene qigong contrasted with Lloyd-Jones's vigorous running and lunging. The performance weaves together dreamlike dance memories spanning Swan Lake and other styles, domestic humour such as reading glasses and HRT patches, and poignant moments including the smashing of Barbies used to demonstrate their former abilities. Despite playful exaggeration of age-related aches, the performers' bodies reveal their extensive dancing histories: Lloyd-Jones bounds across the stage with clarity whilst Palsson maintains delicate control on her toes, showcasing exceptional comic timing and finely calibrated artistry.
- Two seasoned dancers explore ageing, injury and the courage to keep performing.
- Show blends physical virtuosity with domestic humour and reflective dance memory.
- Performers demonstrate continued artistry transcends physical limitations of age.