In August, Thodos Dance Chicago had the pleasure of traveling to Omaha, Nebraska, to set A Light in the Dark , The Story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan on American Midwest Ballet for their fall 2026 season. Melissa Thodos was joined by TDC Alumni and original cast members, John Cartwright, Jessica Miller Tomlinson, and Alissa Tollefson to restage this work on AMB, to be performed as part of their Momentum concert on October 17 and 18. This special story of how Helen navigated the hearing/sight world, captivated the world in the early 1900’s. It was first a book, then a Broadway play, then a movie featuring Patty Duke as the young Helen Keller, for which she won the Academy Award for best supporting actress. Melissa Thodos and Ann Reinking, together, were inspired to create this timeless story through the medium of dance, and in 2013, A Light in the Dark received its world premiere in Chicago. Of the work, Dance Magazine wrote “The larger-than-life gestural language of the choreography weaves a tale with almost a mythic tone that gives us new insight into Helen’s world.” The Chicago Tribune wrote, “The dancing is lilting and infectious, glossed with a warm evocation of the past, and old-fashioned storytelling arts, not often seen in choreography today.” The Chicago Sun-Times ranked the work #2 among the leading 2013 dance events in Chicago, and the piece toured extensively throughout the US, reaching over 50,000 audience members. "We are so excited to be working with Melissa Thodos and three of the original cast members that were part of the creation of this work. The story is deeply moving, really an incredible true story that highlights the strength of the human spirit, the power of perseverance, and the amazing impact a teacher can have. Created by Melissa and Ann Reinking, it is beautifully told through dance and we can't wait to share it with our audiences. I was introduced to this ballet by the amazing Ann Reinking, who we were so fortunate to work with on several projects. 'A Light in the Dark' was a very meaningful project for her, and those of us who knew her from both companies are delighted to now be working together to bring this story to life once again.” Erika Overturff Artistic Director and CEO of American Midwest Ballet Read more about this exciting partnership on AMB's website here!