Dancers of the Third Age, 1975--1993

As more people live longer today and become active seniors, it is important to explore creative, emotional, and artistic outlets for the seniors in our society. Dancers of the Third Age, Liz Lerman's senior adult dance company, is an important model for the field. Dancers of the Third Age was in existence from 1975 to 1993, the longest of any senior adult company, and incorporated men and women ages sixty to ninety-two. Dancers of the Third Age was located in the Washington, D.C., area during their eighteen-year existence, and was composed of individuals from varied social, economic, and professional backgrounds, many with no previous dance experience and training. A large part of their performance focused on audience participation and improvisation. This thesis documents the history, performances, benefits, problems, and future plans for reassembling the company.