102-year-old Harlem Renaissance dancer sees herself on film for the first time

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Alice Barker was a chorus dancer during the Harlem Renaissance and just celebrated her 102nd birthday, but she had never seen herself on film. Until now.

David Shuff met Barker while working with his therapy dog at the Bishop Henry B. Hucles Episcopal Nursing Home in Brooklyn, New York, according to a Reddit thread about the video.

"I knew Alice for several years -- my dog is a therapy dog and we visited her nursing home -- the recreation nurse and I always talked about how amazing it would be to find her films and show her," he wrote. "And we finally were able to!"

Mark Cantor of the Celluloid Improvisations Music Film Archive, which has preserved more than 4,000 separate performances, to get the "soundies" of Barker dancing as a young woman. This past fall, the group showed Barker her films for the very first time.

More:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/22/102-harlem-renaissance-dancer-video_n_7119392.html

[shenmue]

1. Amazing

[chervilant]

2. Lovely story.

I'm so glad she got to see these.

[Triana]

3. What a lovely woman - then and now!

She's adorable and beautiful.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

4. That is so heartwarming! I'm just a bit verklempt!

[MrMickeysMom]

5. Wonderful to see that spirit bubble up again...

It never has left her!

[TNNurse]

6. Her beauty is matched

by those who did this for her.

Wow.

[Lithos]

7. A little humid here in my house

I feel some moisture on my cheeks...

L-

[progressoid]

8. Fabulous!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

9. love!

❤

[deurbano]

10. Amazing... fantastic.

[niyad]

11. how lovely. thank you.

[MADem]

12. Saw her on the tee vee tonight--beautiful! nt

[2naSalit]

13. That was really sweet! n/t

[Hekate]

14. Such a pretty girl with such a special smile. And those legs!

What a gift those old films were for her.

[Snarkoleptic]

15. k&R

Wonderful story that should be seen by all!

[Enthusiast]

16. Kicked and recommended a whole bunch!

[stillwaiting]

17. That was truly lovely to watch. TY for posting!! nt