Abilities Expos’ Producers Create Crowdfunding Campaign to Film “A Passion for Dance”
October 6, 2015
Donna Russo, who has muscular dystrophy, sits in a chair as dancers move around her in beautiful rhythm choreographed by Tam Warner, creating a profound and memorable experience.
This experience has been a part of showfloor during the Abilities Expos series of shows, which are geared toward people with disabilities and their families.
Lew Shomer and David Korse, owners and producers of the Abilities Expos series, were so moved by Russo and her group’s performance, they now have all teamed up to bring a documentary, “A Passion for Dance”, to the screen.
HERE is a video of the performance that inspired the documentary, and HERE is a link to the crowdfunding campaign.
The routine with Russo was first performed at the Los Angeles Abilities show and then the San Jose one, according to Shomer.
“I just got so emotionally involved and I said, ‘Tam, why don’t we have lunch one day?’”, Shomer said. I asked her at the lunch, ‘Why won’t we put together a documentary with Donna, but also five other dancers?’”
The documentary will follow the dancers with disabilities as they share their experiences of overcoming challenges to continue their life's passion.
It will stand as an educational guide to help able-bodied people understand the dreams, hopes and possibilities that people with disabilities have through the creative expression of dance.
The producers have chosen Indiegogo as the best place to raise the funds to make this documentary which profiles Russo, an actress and dancer, and Warner, an industry-leading choreographer — both of whom are living with disabilities.
The two professionals met in a workshop, bonding over their personal struggles and their passion for dance.
A “Passion for Dance” is the story of Russo and Warner; as well an extraordinary group of dancers who share in the joy of movement and demonstrate their resolve to never give up, according to Shomer.
In this film, the audience will engage with dancers with disabilities as they journey through the audition process, hours of rehearsal, and an original finale choreographed by Warner.
The funding campaign opens Oct. 6 and will go for 30 days, Shomer said. The goal is to raise $125,000 to make the film.
“If we raise 50 percent of our goal during that time, we’ll start doing auditions,” he added. “We hope to have the entire film finished by the end of the year.”
For more information please visit www.apassionfordance.com or the crowdfunding site HERE.
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