Teen holding dance event for charity

Friday, July 22, 2011

Earlier this summer, Emma Benson was listening to Lady Gaga’s new billboard hit, “The Edge of Glory,” when she was struck with an impulse to dance and an idea.

“It was really a spur of the moment thing,” she said. “But I thought to myself, why can’t I share my dance with everyone?”

The 15-year-old high school sophomore, will be hosting a charity dance event called “The Glory Project” on July 28.

She choreographed an easy-to-learn dance routine to Lady Gaga’s newest summer anthem, “The Edge of Glory” and will be teaching the dance to willing participants for a price of $5 at the performance stage area by the town pool in Bedford. All proceeds will benefit Big Thought, a leading nonprofit for theatrical arts education. A rain date is scheduled for July 29.

Benson has been involved in the theatrical arts since a young age. She started theater when she was 10 years old, singing and acting and even choreographed her school’s musical in the eighth grade.

This summer, she is working with the Teen Actorsingers troupe in Nashua on this season’s show, called “Working.” It’s a musical based on Studs Terkel’s best-selling book of interviews with American workers, and portrays the unacknowledged in the American work force.

“This is a great chance to bring our community together, dance, and show people what a small town can do,” she said.

She researched several arts and theater charities and decided on Big Thought, one of the most notorious nonprofits in the country and located in Dallas, Texas, noted for its charity work in support of theatrical education in schools and encouraging imaginative thinking in students.

“In schools across America, some of the first programs to be eliminated during budget cuts are the arts programs,” she said.

Benson will be teaching her dance from 9 a.m.-noon. After a lunch break, they will film their performance for a video to be uploaded to YouTube, Benson said.

“The song is about taking a risk,” she said. “And that’s what we’re doing here. We’re taking a risk.”

Benson expects up to at least 40 people to attend the event, but she welcomes anyone who wants to dance or even watch and donate to the project.

The teen has coordinated the event herself, contacting the Superintendent of Schools Tim Mayes, and Parks and Recreation Manager Jane O’Brien, who have agreed to fully sponsor the project.

Benson is grateful for the support.

“It’s been a little hard for me because people haven’t taken me very seriously. I’m 15 years old, but I really put my mind to this to make it happen. When you really put your mind to it, you can really have an impact.”

“I’m looking for an audience of anyone who wants to make an impact, to dance or watch and donate,” she said. “I think it will be very good for Bedford to bring us all together, and get everyone dancing.”

Alexandra Churchill can be reached at 594-6411 or achurchill@nashuatelegraph.com.