Her choice was obviously prompted by the work's subject - the loss of traditional life stories in postwar Vietnam. Yet the women's faces and bodies were marked by so much character and history that they seemed to be more than elderly witnesses to a specific past. Under the choreographer's skilful direction, they became theatrical personalities in their own right. By common consent they stole the show, possessing a far surer grasp of Chopinot's slow, looping choreography than the younger dancers. Christopher Bannerman, a former principal with London Contemporary Dance Theatre, long ago turned 50 but when he recently performed alongside the exquisite south Asian dancer Mavin Khoo he more than held his own.
Dancers age better than rock stars.
But oldies aren't valued simply for their gravitas. Diana Payne Myers, star of numerous independent dance shows, appeared in DV8's last production dressed only in a bathing suit. Lee cast both these amateur dancers because they possess a style of energy and stage presence she could never have found in younger performers. As a choreographer, Lee has always looked for her material in odd places. She presents work in non-theatrical spaces, mixes amateur dancers with professionals, combines film and live performance and frequently employs children and the elderly.