102-Year-Old Dancer watches her Dancing Videos for the First Time

During the Harlem Renaissance a chorus dancer by the name of Alice Barker had never seen herself on film until she turned 102 years old.

Barker recently celebrated her 102nd birthday and when she was shown her films for the very first time she was thrilled. Watching herself dance in the films made Barker wish she could get up from the bed and do it all over again and reminded her about her love of dancing.

Barker had performed in the 1930’s for iconic venues such as the Apollo, Cotton Club and Zanzibar Club.barker also danced alongside great artists such as Frank Sinatra and Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. 

After watching the 80 years old video of her dancing Barker exclaimed it’s a fabulous experience for her to see the video and she can remember it all as it was happening, according to Huffington Post.

Barker remembered she always used to say to herself she is being paid to do something she enjoys doing and she could have done it for free because it felt so good to dance. Barker shared it was the music as she could get carried away in it. 

The film was unearthed by David Shuff who frequently visits the Bishop Henry B. Hucles Episcopal Nursing Home in Brooklyn, New York, where Barker is residing and met her there.

According to Shuff he knew Barker for years while visiting the nursing home as his dog is a therapy dog and he always related how wonderful it would be if they could find her films and show her.

Finally Shuff was able to locate the film and even posted a clip of Barker dancing on Reddit which has gone viral.  The film was found from the Mark Cantor of the Celluloid Improvisations Music Film Archive, which has a preserved archive of more than 4000 ‘soundies’ performances.