102 y/o Dancer Sees Herself on Film for the First Time

UPDATE: A musical about Alice's life is in the works! See pinned comment for more info.

---

---

UPDATE: Alice passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 6th, 2016. She spent the last day of her life in good spirits, enjoying listening to music and having her mail read to her. Thank you to all the thousands of fans who sent in cards, flowers, and art. You truly gave her deep joy and meaning in the last years of her life!

---

Alice Barker was a chorus line dancer during the Harlem Renaissance of the the 1930s and 40s. She danced at clubs such as The Apollo, Cotton Club, The Zanzibar Club, and on Broadway—with legends including Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Although she danced in numerous movies, commercials and TV shows, she had never seen any of them, and all of her photographs and memorabilia had been lost over the years.

After years of searching we found three "Soundies" Alice appeared in and were finally able to show them to her — she had never seen herself in motion in her life!

For more info about the dancers of the Harlem Renaissance, we recommend the lovely documentary "Been Rich All My Life" —several of the women in the film danced with Alice back in the day!

This video was filmed on cellphones (and almost as an afterthought!) by my friends Darin Tatum and Tom Hunt.

[Tenfresh]

UPDATE: From the producers of Alice's upcoming musical:

There is a new song being released about Alice Barker’s life experience called, 'Who Do You See?' It introduces the musical project about her life, entitled ‘Hidden in Plain Sight: The Story of Alice Barker.'

This project shares the trials and tribulations Alice faced and the care & support she received from an unexpected person.The single captures Alice’s New Orleans roots while encompassing the rhythm & blues genre that digs deep into Alice’s feelings before & after becoming famous.

'Who Do You See?' song and music video is available on our Youtube channel: @HiddeninPlainSightProject

Follow us on Instagram @hips1940 to learn more about the project.

[weekndenjoyer]

“Making me wish I could get out of this bed and do it all over again”

*quietly cries*

[gzktvfg]

“i want to get out of bed and do this all over again” i-
this makes me want to go out and live my life while i can instead of staying in my room and doing nothing all the time

[yamomsahoe]

"I wish i could get off this bed and do it all over again"
I cant hold back my tears.

she sadly passed away on 2016 April 4th fly high
it was great how she danced in her bed and how she said “I wish I could get off this bed and do it all over again”

WOW, her memory is incredible. To be honest, her memory is sharper than mine.

[bobbyf]

"Making me wish i could get out of this bed. And do it all over again"

*The weight of those words is unbearable*

[TurboSol]

Wow she was born a year before WW1 started (1913)! Imagine how much she has seen the world change over 102 years!

[whitelightning]

"Make me wish I could get out of this bed, and do it all over again"

[bradtelfer]

9 yrs later and still warming strangers hearts. God bless her soul. Very cool thing to see

[Kabaselefh]

Her muscle memory kicked in when she started tapping her fingers to the tune of the music, if she could stand up, she would have danced

[jackieortegadesigns]

WOW, her memory is incredible. To be honest, her memory is sharper than mine.

[stevenbahena]

Her young self had NO IDEA that her future self is watching her from far into the future from her hospital bed.

Just. Wow.

[susankennedy]

I think, as she was watching with a serious face, that she was remembering the choreography and all the things you have to pay attention to when you perform: where your space is, what the musical cue is, the blister in her shoe, how the dancer next to her was moving into her space, like that. Dancers like this make it look like you just get up and shake it and have a great time, but she was remembering all the elements that you attend to as a professional. Wonderful video, thank you.

[ErgenicStats]

Alice passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 6th, 2016.

[sofiabarrera]

"It makes me wish I could get up out of this bed and do it all over again"


Please excuse me while I go SOB MY EYES OUT :'(

[trinocular]

it turns out she was actually dancing for an audience of millions who wouldn't see the performances until the next century. wild.

[kms]

She was a gorgeous woman with an infectious smile! Rest in peace Alice Barker ❤ she had such a wonderful soul.

[piamariabrodalen]

she even started dancing in her bed, that how much it is a part of her🥺

[hand]

She lived through alot of history. Amazing

[MT-tudt]

For 102 years old, she’s still got a sharp mind. She was very beautiful when she was young and she still is.