SOBRE LA PRODUCCIÓN
LIGHT / THE HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY PROJECT is a multi-faceted work, which at its core, seeks to use dance as a convener of conversation around issues related to the protection of human rights against bigotry and hate.
“Illuminated through the tragic personal story of Holocaust survivor Naomi Warren, the dance takes the audience on a journey that is simultaneously situated in the past while making relevant connections to the present. We watch as a young woman’s journey takes her from the comfort of a loving family with a rich cultural history, to a place of unimaginable degradation and dehumanization.
Historically, the Holocaust stands alone in its depth of destruction. And while the catastrophic loss and suffering of the victims cannot be measured, alarmingly, the history’s underlying narrative – Anti-Semitism, other-izing, propaganda, poverty, and demonizing of migrants – continues. These issues can only be confronted through dialogue. My hope is that LIGHT / THE HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY PROJECT can encourage community wide conversation.” – Stephen Mills
Coreografía: Stephen Mills
Music: Steve Reich, Evelyn Glennie, Michael Gordon, Arvo Pärt, & Philip Glass
Photography by Anne Marie Bloodgood & Tony Spielberg
All rights reserved | No unauthorized use
DESTACADOS
- Coreografía: Stephen Mills
- Music: Steve Reich, Evelyn Glennie, Michael Gordon, Arvo Pärt, & Philip Glass
- Sets / Costumes: Christopher McCollum
- Diseño de Iluminación: Tony Tucci
- Diseño Multimedia: EXOPOLIS
- Run-time: 84 minutes
- Dancers: 20+ (10 women & 10 men)
- Awards: 3 accolades ranging from “Best Dance Concert” to “Best Choreographer”
- Films: LIGHT has been the focus of multiple Lone Star Emmy®-winning documentaries:
Austin PBS / KRLU’s Arts in Context: Ballet Austin’s Light / The Holocaust & Humanity Project (2005)
Ausitn PBS / KRLU’s Producing Light (2012)
BG Pictures’ Finding Light (2024)
ESTRENOS
ARSHT CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS – Miami, FL
ACCO FRINGE FESTIVAL – Acco, Israel
SUZANNE DELLAL CENTER – Tel Aviv, Israel
GERARD BEHAR CENTER – Jerusalem, Israel
THE KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS – Washington, DC (excerpt)
THE KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS – West Palm Beach, FL
THE LONG CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS – Austin, TX
THE JOYCE THEATER – New York, NY (excerpt)
BYHAM THEATER | PITTSBURGH BALLET THEATER – Pittsburgh, PA
XVII INTERNAZIONALE ABANO DANZA – Abano Terme, Italy (excerpt)
BASS CONCERT HALL – Austin, TX
FESTIVAL LJUBLJIANA – Ljubljana, Slovenia (excerpt)
THE NEWMAN CENTER | COLORADO BALLET – Denver, CO
POLK THEATER | NASHVILLE BALLET – Nashville, TN
PRENSA
“…romántica…expresión de tierno sentimiento…”
New York Times
“A passionate plea for human rights.”
Miami New Times
“…la hermosa narración ha sido, quizás, nunca tan dramáticamente sentida.”
Broadway World
“La imaginación creativa de Mills fue sorprendentemente concisa y su coreografía, con su movimiento y pareja infinitamente originales, fue distintiva y poderosa.”
Palm Beach Artspaper
“Esta es una forma de construir sobre nuestro pasado y crear un nuevo futuro”
CBS12
“Una frenética ráfaga de manos y luces abre una escena de ballet… para promover la tolerancia, luchar contra el fanatismo y el odio.”
YNet News | Israel Culture
“La escena abstracta con su único foco podría representar una iglesia en Ruanda, un campo de trabajo en Camboya o una cámara de gas en Europa.”
Associated Press
“…Una exposición magistral de uno de los episodios más oscuros de la historia. Visualmente y emocionalmente impactante…”
Austin American Statesman
“…Una experiencia poderosa y emocional que no te abandona al salir del teatro.”
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
NAOMI WARREN: LIGHT’S INSPIRATION
The inspiration behind the story of survival and triumph of the human spirit in LIGHT.
Naomi Warren grew up in Wolkowysk, a small city in Eastern Poland. In 1939, the war broke out and by the summer of 1941 the Nazi army invaded Poland. The Nazis very quickly began systematically isolating, interning and murdering the Jewish population. Naomi and many family members were rounded up and sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau in January of 1942. Arriving at the camp, Naomi was torn from her family. Her mother was selected for immediate liquidation. During her time in the death camp she lost her husband, sister-in-law and others. Naomi survived three years at Auschwitz, was transferred to Ravensbruck and was eventually liberated from Bergen-Belsen. At the end of the war, Naomi settled in Houston, Texas where she remarried and built a successful import business. She served on the boards of Holocaust Museum Houston, the Jewish Federation and the Southwest Region of the Anti-Defamation League. Among her many honors are awards from the Jewish-American Committee, Holocaust Museum Houston and the Government of Denmark. In honor of Naomi’s 80th birthday, her family established the Warren Fellowship for Future Teachers at Holocaust Museum Houston.
SYNOPSIS
Section I:
Steve Reich (Tehillim, Track #1)
Life begins with man and woman, Adam and Eve. Civilization develops; families and cultures evolve to include a pattern of daily life and valued traditions, a wedding. As this section ends, change is imminent.
Section II:
Evelyn Glennie (Greatest Hits, Rhythm Song)
Those deemed “different” become exploited. What is familiar slowly disappears. People retreat from one another, beginning to socially isolate; to hide in hopes of survival.
Section III:
Michael Gordon (Weather Track #3)
No longer seen as individuals, life or death is determined by powers outside of their control. People are treated as property and transported to camps. Many do not survive the trip.
Section IV:
Arvo Pärt (Tabula Rasa)
How do relationships develop within confinement? The circle of life is complex with acts of kindness, rescue, survival, frustration and anger. We enter and leave alone.
Section V:
Philip Glass (Movement 2, Tyrol Concerto, performed by Dennis Russell Davies)
The final section represents the power of the human spirit to cling to hope. Survivors create new relationships; build families and careers, and productive lives.
FEATURE DOCUMENTARY: FINDING LIGHT
Illuminated through the story of Holocaust survivor Naomi Warren, FINDING LIGHT takes the audience on a journey that is simultaneously situated in the past while making relevant connections to the present through the lens of dance.
FINDING LIGHT is an official selection of 16 film festivals around the globe and the recipient of 14 accolades, including “BEST DOCUMENTARY” awards in Berlin, Rome and Madrid, “BEST HISTORICAL FILM” at Cannes World Film Festival, “BEST DOCUMENTARY” Audience Award at Film Pittsburgh’s JFilm Festival and a COMMUNITAS AWARD for “Making a Difference in Communities.”
FINDING LIGHT has been featured in Dance Magazine, Broadway World, Times Square Chronicles, Pointe Magazine, Austin American-Statesman, Pittsburgh Magazine, Boston Spirit Magazine, Northern Connection Magazine and Film Pittsburgh, among others.