Amanda Seyfried's Dance of Faith in The Testament of Ann Lee

The movie "The Testament of Ann Lee" features Amanda Seyfried as Ann Lee, the founder of the Shakers. This religious group from the 1700s is known for their unique dances and songs. These dances were not just random moves. They had deep meaning. The dances showed hunger, obedience, grief, devotion, and ecstasy. The director, Mona Fastvold, wanted to show these dances on screen. They faced many challenges. They had to dance in the woods, in small rooms with candles, and on a ship during a real storm. They only had half a day to shoot each dance scene. But the challenges made the dances more exciting and meaningful. The Shaker dances were based on real history. They looked at old artwork, descriptions from early believers, and even criticism from others. The critics called their dances "wild. " They would dance for days and make loud sounds. The director used these details to make the dances in the movie. The most important thing was that the dances had meaning. They were not just cool moves. They were a form of prayer. Celia Rowlson-Hall created the choreography for the movie. She showed how the Shakers' dances changed over time. In the early scenes, the dancers reached up with hunger in their eyes. They leaned on each other and hit their chests hard. It was like they were trying to find answers. In later scenes, the dances were more controlled. They marched in straight lines and circles. They tapped their shoulders and crossed their arms. This showed that they had found their faith and were now tending to it. The movie also had to coordinate over a hundred extras and dozens of actors and dancers. They had to plan the camera movements carefully. Sometimes the camera watched from a distance. Other times, it moved wildly, as if it was dancing too. The cinematographer, William Rexer, used his iPhone to plan the shots. He worked closely with the choreographer to capture the important moments. One of the most impressive scenes was filmed on a replica of an 18th-century ship. The actors danced on the deck, chanting and leaning with the waves. They danced in the wind, rain, and snow. The director started filming in dry weather and worked their way into the rain. The costumes got heavy when wet, but it added to the effect. It looked like the actors had steadied themselves in the storm. Amanda Seyfried was at the center of these dance scenes. She performed the choreography with conviction. She had been on a dance team in high school. But she found these moves easier to learn. They were instinctual and human. She even taught the dances to the other actors. This put her in a leadership role, which fit her character. Between the group dance numbers, Seyfried had emotional solo scenes. These showed Ann's struggles and heartbreaking journey. The Shakers' faith came from these experiences. Seyfried sang live in most of the movie. When she struggled with high notes, it added to her performance. It was satisfying for her to channel that discomfort into her role.