We are proud to share that one of our dancers, LBT member and Summer Youth Theatre participant and intern Zora Lotton-Barker, along with her Lawrence High School classmate, Liliana Christensen, have produced Alvin Ailey: Breaking Barriers in American Dance, a short documentary about the life and legacy of renowned dancer Alvin Ailey. The film has been recognized by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and Smithsonian Learning Lab as part of the museum’s annual National History Day competition. It is currently streaming on the Smithsonian website through June 24, and can be viewed on Vimeo here.
Zora began dancing at the Lawrence Arts Center at the age of 3. She has studied ballet, modern, and jazz. During the past few years, Zora has performed in School of Dance productions including A Kansas Nutcracker, Ish, Giselle, Carnival of the Animals, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Zora previously served as a dance assistant in Jazz/Music Theatre dance classes and in Little Mover classes. She has also played parts in Arts Center theater productions including Music Man and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
The documentary was featured on June 18 in a Lawrence Journal-World article detailing the Smithsonian competition and the students’ interest in focusing on Alvin Ailey.