Encounters in place ballet: a phenomenological perspective on older people's walking routines in an urban park

Abstract

The phenomenological tradition within human geography continues to inspire research on everyday city life. This paper draws on David Seamon's notion of place ballet to understand the meaning of encounters between older people visiting an urban park in the city of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. The paper uses participant observation, including a serial interviewing strategy in which older people are accompanied on their walks through the park, to expose daily walking routines. As part of these routines, characterised by clockwork precision, they meet fellow park visitors in place ballet. Place ballet is associated with recurring encounters between familiar strangers that are full of significance. Notably, it sustains an atmosphere of fellowship that encourages people to notice, and care for, each other. These findings support the view that the phenomenological perspective emphasises the meaningful and positive aspects of encounters between older people in public space, even if they do not necessarily interact.