Gloria Gaynor walks out the door

I often wondered whether Gloria Gaynor ever saw my video Dancing Auschwitz, and if so, how she felt about it. Did she mind that I used her song, I Will Survive, a short film where my father, my children, my niece, and I danced 'to life', to my father's survival, on the grounds of Auschwitz?

I had no idea how she felt about Jews, or if her heart went out to Israel.

When I uploaded my video in 2010, it went viral, and then was quickly taken down by Youtube due to a copyright claim over the music. I had emailed Gloria G’s copyright manager, hoping she could help me license the track. She replied that there was nothing she could do as the rights were owned by Universal Music Studios.

At the same time, I was also dealing with Universal Studios, Australia. Their lawyer had sent me a legal document to sign, demanding I never show the video with Gloria G’s song again. I never signed it, but I was scared of being sued, so I removed the audio from my website and YouTube channel.

Years passed before I felt brave enough to re-upload the original version with the music.

Fast forward 15 years.

After Hamas’ massacre in Israel on October 7th, someone sent me a video that stunned me. It was Gloria Gaynor dancing with Montana Tucker to I Will Survive, the very same song we had danced to at Auschwitz.

At the end of the clip, Gloria explains ‘This song isn’t just about surviving, it’s about thriving - by never letting anyone break your spirit’. 

This was her message to the people of Israel.

AlI I could think was, wow ‘If you live long enough, you really do see everything.’

I still don't know whether she's seen 'Dancing Auschwitz', but after seeing this clip, I'm now pretty sure she'd approve.

This blog is about mum, so I’ll mention her too.

Mum didn’t come with us to Poland that time. She had no desire to return; she still remembered the betrayal by her neighbours and school friends from before the war.

When people asked how she felt about the family dancing at Auschwitz, she always gave the same answer:

“I supported the project. I supported them dancing to life, to our survival, at those taboo sites.

The ashes of my family, my people, were scattered by the wind across Europe.

But like the words of the song, I Will Survive, I too survived."

What more would you want her to say?