I’m going to ask you for money. Before you stop reading, imagine that I am sitting next to you telling you this story. Nature brings us purity and beauty, and sometimes people do as well.
Years ago, a ballerina from NYC was towing a trailer through the desert with her husband. Their car broke down in a nowhere place called Death Valley Junction. The sky above was blue, the air was hot, and the little town was tumbleweeds and dust. She saw an abandoned hotel and social hall and peeked inside. The ballerina saw a stage. It was as if the building was waiting for her, as if the heavens had conspired to bring her out to this desert town from the concrete lined city so far way.
Marta Becket moved in and renamed it The Amargosa Opera House. She painted her own audience of kings, queens, jugglers, courtiers, courtesans, lords, ladies, and minstrels. Even when nobody came to see her dance, she performed to the audience of her creation. It didn’t matter that no one was there, Marta was one of the lucky ones in this life. She knew her purpose, and that was to dance.
There’s no keeping the lid on what is creative and pure. Word got out. People came, sitting on old lawnchairs (later to be replaced by theatre seats). She performed ballets about the themes in her life: mortgages, coming to the desert, the people she'd met, the passing of vaudeville. Marta danced all the roles in front of people who came from all over the world. A filmmaker made a documentary, and her magic washed over him as well. He got an Academy Award nomination for his work.
It has been 32 years since she started. She’s in her 80’s and creativity keeps her young. She’s still dancing. She’s creating a new ballet, “Life is a Three-Ring Circus,” which will be produced in 2008. The music will be circus music and Offenbach.
But this winter she had an accident. She had to cancel her remaining performances, which would have brought revenues to maintain the Opera House, hotel, staff, Marta, and her menagerie of animals though the hot summer. And that’s why I’m asking you to donate to this 501(c)(3) organization.
So go to her website at Amargosa Opera House, take a look at the film by director Todd Robinson, and look at the stunning photos by artist Phil Kember. Then make a donation to Marta.
People of beauty and light are worth supporting.
(Image from Amargosa, the film)
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5 comments:
Update:
I don't know why none of my friends ever posts here. They're such SHY wallflowers, they send me email instead.
Anyway, two people have sent in money. Keep it going! Art is worth it!
*pumps fist in air*
Art! Art! Art!
Wow, what an AMAZING story. Thansk for spreading it. Beautiful.
I received her autobiography, "To Dance In The Sands," and also a copy of the Academy Award nominated "Amargosa" in the mail today.
I'm thinking of showing it in my backyard if I can get the DVD projector to show it on the big screen. I'll have people who care about these things over for desert and a movie. Hopefuly, we'll raise some money.
And thank you Phoenix. I always like it when you comment here.
Though you wrote this a couple of months ago, it just came to my attention this morning. Good job.
I'm a huge fan of Marta Becket's and have visited Amargosa twice. I've written about her over at my blog Mere Words; specifically the post "Are You Saved?"
I'll also be reviewing her book To Dance on Sands in the near future (and have been remiss in not doing this sooner).
Have you heard any updates as to how Marta is doing?
Hello, Thank you for visiting this site.
I wrote to Marta after I received her notice that things were going poorly. No news yet. I might ring her staff this afternoon to see how things went with the fundraising efforts.
I also read "To Dance On Sands" and was astounded by the creative drive which has fueled her entire life. Amargosa is but one chapter in her artistic endeavors. A fantastic and rare person.
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