Been Rich All My Life

This documentary opened this weekend at the Quad Cinema in New York. I saw the film last night and four of the "Silver Belles" and the film maker were available after the screening to answer questions. The "Silver Belles" are former Apollo ballroom chorus dancers who formed a troupe about ten years ago and continue to dance well into their eighth and even ninth decades. Their stories are fascinating. All started at the very bottom of the ladder and forged careers dancing and performing with some of the greatest artists of our age - e.g., Duke Ellington, Bill Robinson and Louis Armstrong.

But while I expected to be educated and entertained - and I was - I didn't expect to be as moved as I was by the poignancy of their resurrected dance careers and the strength and dignity that these women display in the film. The film was made over a two year period and two of the Belles suffered serious falls during the period of its filming. The way the group handled these events is a major part of the film's story. It's a story of perseverance and how the human spirit can transcend the frailty of our bodies and the physical decay that accompany old age. It makes you realize that there are heroes right here in our midst.

Run (or dance) - but don't walk - to see this film. It'll be one of the best you see this year.

Here are some other reviews of the film.

UPDATE: Here's the trailer for the film which is now available on DVD:

Tap Forward

I had the good fortune to attend the Tap Future performance last night (7/15) - part of the Tap City Festival. All of the performances were fascinating but I'll comment on my three favorites. First, David Rider danced to Gershwin's "I Can't Be Bothered Now." Rider, who is just 20 years old, danced elegantly and featured a remarkable series of spins. According this article, Rider considered giving up dance in order to join the Legionaries of Christ - a traditionalist Catholic religious order. Perhaps he has decided to stick with dance (the program describes him as a student at Fordham). If so, I'd say he made the right choice.

Of course, Astaire - who is apparently one of Rider's dance idols(?) danced to this number in Damsel in Distress. I'd say Rider very nearly outdid the master last night!

Omar Edwards did a number titled "Mr. Nicholas" - a tribute to the Nicholas Brothers. (Fayard's widow was in the audience). Edwards - according to the program notes he's Savion Golver's cousin - did the splits which were the specialty of the Brothers. But most remarkably he danced the last part of his routine in his bare feet - including what looked to me like toe jabs. That's amazing! Edwards has great polish and wonderful stage presence - he 's a great entertainer as well as a graceful dancer.

Finally, I enjoyed the performance of Linda Sohl-Ellison and Monti Ellison in a number entitled "Espiritu." Monti performed on an instrument which I had never seen before called a berimbau. This is a Brazilian instrument of apparently African origin and it produces a sound which has a percussive or rhythmic element as the bow (or vaqueta) is attached to a rattle (or caxixi). The sound of the caxixi produced an interesting counterpoint to Sohl-Ellison's fluent taps. Sohl-Ellison apparently has made a specialty of dancing to what might be called "world music." Her performance last night was a fascinating example of the possibilities in this field.