The featured skater is Sheila Reid-Pender , a member of the Harlem-based skating group The Village Wizards .
Gaynor was not actually present for the filming of the skating segments; she and Reid-Pender did not meet in person until 2014. A Personal and Cultural Anthem Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive (Official Music Video)
Gloria Gaynor’s is more than just a disco track; it is a global anthem of resilience and personal triumph. Released in October 1978 , the song famously began as a B-side to the track "Substitute" before DJs and audiences recognized its power, forcing the record label to flip the single and launch it to the top of the charts. The Official Music Video (1979) The featured skater is Sheila Reid-Pender , a