“A Time Remembered: Two Holocaust Survivor Stories” Comes To Louisville Ballet
The performances will anchor a series of events honoring Holocaust victims.
Commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust, where during World War II six million Jewish people were systematically murdered by Nazis and their partners, The Louisville Ballet, with help from the Kentucky Opera, will present “A Time Remembered” on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 1 and 2. The production features two works that share the stories of survival. First “Another Sunrise,” is a 30-minute opera that illuminates the experiences of Krystyna Zywulska, who survived the Auschwitz – Birkenau camp. While in the camp, Zywulska wrote satiric poems and songs that became touchpoints for resistance. “Another Sunrise” will be performed by the Kentucky Opera.
The second performance will be “Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project,” a ballet that focuses on the life of Naomi Warren. It documents the journey of Warren through family to the dehumanization of Jews during WWII. The ballet is created and choreographed by Stephen Mills of Ballet Austin. The ballet offers the audience a chance to reflect on humanity’s capacity for destruction and survival.
“When we speak about the Holocaust, we can quickly be overcome by the complexity of its history,” said Leslie Smart, Louisville Ballet CEO, in a release. “The significance of this project comes at a critical time. Telling this story is more important and urgent than ever, as world events, misinformation, and the passage of time erode our collective memory.”
The production is funded by the Jewish Heritage Fund and the Auerbach Family. The production is dedicated to the late Minx Auerbach, who died from ovarian cancer in 2006. She was the head of the Department of Consumer Affairs from 1974 – 1978, while working with former Louisville Mayor Harvey Sloan. She also worked with Mitch McConnell while he served as County Judge in Jefferson County from 1978 – 1984.
“Through A Time Remembered, we see the arts as a bridge for fostering understanding and acceptance,” Jeff Polson, President and CEO of the Jewish Heritage Fund said in a release. “We’re proud to support this effort to build connections, honor survivors, and ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust continue to inspire empathy and unity.”
In addition to the ballet’s performance, the Speed Museum Cinema will host a screening of “Finding Light,” a documentary that uses dance to share the need for urgent human rights protections against bigotry and hatred. Following the screening Stephen Mills and filmmaker Paul Michael Bloodgood will participate in a talk-back moderated by Dr. Ann Glazer Niren who is the curator of Jewish Collections at the Filson Historical Society. The film will be presented on Sunday, Jan. 26 as part of the Cinema+ program.
A Time Remembered will be performed on Feb.1 at 8 p.m., Feb. 2 at 2 p.m., and 8 p.m. at the Kentucky Performing Arts Center’s Whitney Hall. A Remembrance Dinner honoring the late Minx Auerbach will be held on Sunday, Feb. 2 at 5 pm at the Galt House. The dinner is $600 per person and includes tickets to Sunday’s 8 p.m. performance. For more information, visit Louisville Ballet’s A Time Remembered.