I am/we are: Contemporary dance, somatics and new older bodies

In this photographic article, we gather five Brazilian choreographers and dancers who are over 50 years old: Eva Schul (72), Robson Duarte (57), Eduardo Severino (57), Suzi Weber (55) and Mônica Dantas (52). Movement and dance photos support a narrative about age, longevity and fragility in contemporary dance. We try to answer some questions: how old is too old to dance? How do we embody time? How do we integrate damage and fragility to our dance? We have been collaborating with Eva Schul since the 1990s, and in parallel, we have been developing our own work. Since the 1980s, Eva Schul has been working with contemporary dance integrating somatic practices. So, this visual essay addresses topics related to the history of somatic practices and contemporary dance in southern Brazil and somatic perspectives on the ageing issue. We intend to give voice and image to those dancers and choreographers that are challenging the perspective of body image in dance, and highlight their older bodies, which can display vulnerability and fragility and, at the same time, strength and desire, ready to fight the battles of art and life. Our vision is that to give voice and image to those dancing bodies matured by the passage of time constitutes a political act.

Innovative Forms of Care for Seniors in Rural Areas of Poland

Ageing is an issue faced by the majority of the European countries, including Poland. Due to their dissimilarity there is a need to apply different approaches to ageing in urban and rural areas. The population aged 65+ is expected to increase by nearly 60% by 2035, and the percentage of that group within the total population is estimated to grow from the current 14% to 22%. These demographic changes will bring new challenges to social welfare system. The need for social care and healthcare services will grow. In order to limit the consequences of this phenomenon action must be taken to allow elderly people to continue their careers, ensure that they are active members of their communities and that the quality of lives does not worsen. This article identifies new and innovative solutions in rural areas to support the elderly inhabitants whose independence is limited and keep them actively involved in community activities, and in order to ensure quality of life. The authors provide a detailed description of two non-standard solutions to deal with the ageing issue. These include social farms and rural hospices at home, both of which have already been implemented in some rural areas in Poland.