Dance Like No One is Watching - May 25th, 2021

Thank you for joining us! We are excited to share “Dance Like No One Is Watching" with you tonight. This dance film is dedicated to all of the dancers and backstage workers who have been affected by COVID-19.

Choreographed on Zoom and filmed at the historic Strand Theatre in Boston, this project sought to capture the magic of the theater, dance, and the team of talented individuals — on-stage and off-stage — that brings the work to fruition.

With inspiration from a prompt, Alison presented to the community, "What does the theater mean to you? She then brought those inspiring sentiments into the virtual rehearsal process with dancer Nika Antuanette and worked with dancer Miranda Stuck and lighting designer Tony Marques to incorporate the public's messages into the dance film, filmed by Ellen Maynard.

Below is a sketch Alison made of backstage workers finishing the final lighting adjustments and sweeping the floor in preparation for The Strand Theater performance.

Therein lies the story that unfolded and we share with you tonight. A sold-out theater, a solo rehearsed for months and ready for the premiere, a team at work, and an audience awaiting an evening of dance... when sometimes life takes unexpected turns. With art imitating life, sometimes a dance is much more than a dance, but a reflection of who we are and how we work together.

Alison Cook Beatty Dance will be back in a theater soon! Thank you so much for joining us tonight which is helping us get closer to reaching our dreams. We are close to reaching our goal of $12,000, if you can make a tax-deductible donation of any kind tonight we would be so grateful. This will help all of the artists and help us sustain studio space rental and theater space rental. We are so close!

Thank you again for joining us tonight as we celebrate the theater and those that bring dance to life, and support all of the artists and theater workers that Alison Cook Beatty Dance works with each day. From our beautiful dancers to the ones you don't see— the lighting designers, the costume designers, the musicians, composers, film editors, photographers, videographers, crew, and the entire production team. It takes a village to create magic. We have many superstars onstage and off. Thank you for your support!

We need your support more than ever! Alison Cook Beatty Dance has been working through COVID-19 in ways never imagined all year to bring art to the community. Please help us get back into the studio and theater. We need to raise $12,000 to continue work in 2021. Please support Alison Cook Beatty Dance today.

We want to thank Matthew Breton of The Strand Theater, the Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the City of Boston. We also thank Jessica Gordon Academy of Performing Arts in Revere, MA, and the Brookline Ballet School in MA for helping us with rehearsal space.