Dispelling myths: 95yo makes dance debut at Mandurah festival

Her ageing mother, Ann Cornish, made a stunning dance performance debut last weekend at the Mandurah Arts Festival.

Accessible community dance event 'Wingspan - A Seated Dance Performance' - was open to all community members, in which participants learned the choreography, attending a rehearsal and performing over the Festival Weekend, by the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre.

"I was constantly surprised by the difficulty of the moves she was capable of embodying," said Liz, a professional dancer herself.

"She picked up on the nuances in the choreography, the changing dynamics and quality of the movement vocabulary.

"She began to glow from within as her latent performer emerged, and she realised she could achieve the movements. It was fantastic to be able to perform with my mum and witness the transformative power of dance."

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Wingspan creative producer and choreographer Paige Gordon said "it was monumental having Ann as part of the ensemble".

"She is magnificent, and such a valued performer," Ms Gordon said.

"It was such a privilege to dance beside her in rehearsals and performances. Ann, with Liz's help, learnt the choreography, and worked within her own body. By becoming involved in this dance performance, Ann instantly dispelled myths about ageing.

"It also is a call to action for the ageing industry to work on ways to engage with our seniors with dance, music and with artistic integrity".

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Her success in the performance was celebrated by the cast, by the audience and by Ann herself.

"I felt young, younger than springtime," Ann said.