Anita Velez - Dancing Through Life
31m
Winner of a 2001 Gracie Award from The Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television, this is UnchainedTV founder Jane Velez-Mitchell's first documentary, setting her on a course to do more documentaries and -ultimately - launch UnchainedTV.
This is the extraordinary story of a woman who arrived in New York City from Puerto Rico on a boat all by herself, at the height of the great depression, and proceeded to create a very successful dance career as the last of the vaudeville performers. Sprinkled with stunning photos of Anita Velez and her dance troupe, this fascinating film takes viewers along a journey of discovery as secrets are revealed. Anita's youngest daughter, Jane Velez-Mitchell, is a TV journalist who puts her reporting skills to work to get some answers from her mother about her somewhat murky past... before it's too late. What emerges is a story of one woman's determination, relentless optimism and boundless creativity in the face of overwhelming odds. This film could serve as a course in how to find the silver lining in any circumstance. Anita Velez lived to 99 and a half years of age, passing away in 2015. This movie is a tribute to her. While the film doesn't get into it, Anita Velez inspired her daughter Jane to be plant-based. While Jane was not raised in a vegan household, it was pescatarian and that is entirely due to her mother Anita, setting Jane on the journey to veganism.