"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
George Santayana

This project began with Ballet Austin, and now the Adrienne Arsht Center proudly brings LIGHT / THE HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY PROJECT to South Florida.  This program will be a three-month, county-wide human rights collaboration that will focus attention on the work that is being done in Miami-Dade County toward the protection of human rights against bigotry and hate.  
 
From August 4 – November 4, the Arsht Center is convening community organizations, in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League, in a county-wide calendar of performances, activities, education programs and public forums.

"Art doesn't change the world, people change the world, but art can be the catalyst for the discussion."
Stephen Mills - Artistic Director Ballet Austin

"VISUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY GRIPPING.
A masterful exposition on one of history's darkest episodes.” Austin American-Statesman

Set to the sweeping, spellbinding music of Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt and others, Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project catapulted Ballet Austin into the front ranks of American ballet companies following its 2005 premiere. Considered Artistic Director Stephen Mills's masterwork, it is a profound and enriching exploration - inspired by one woman's stirring journey of survival - of the courage, resilience and perseverance required to endure and rebuild life after unimaginable loss.

A full-evening contemporary ballet that turns the spotlight on discrimination and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit, Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project offers a timely reminder of the importance of the protection of human rights. As such, Ballet Austin's performances are the culminating events of a three-month community-wide human rights focus and Holocaust education partnership that promotes awareness of the work in our community for the protection of human rights against bigotry and hate through performances, arts education and public dialogue.


Tickets now on sale!




About Ballet Austin

The New York Times proclaims Ballet Austin "a company with big ambitions" originating work that is "absorbing."

As distinctive and dynamic as the city it calls home, Ballet Austin welcomes people near and far to participate in its "classically innovative" vision for the democratization of dance. Hailed by Dance Magazine as “sleek and sophisticated” and “one of the nation’s best kept ballet secrets” by The Washington Post, Stephen Mills works closely with the twenty full-time professional dancers, recruited from an annual 30-city audition tour. Mills’s work with Ballet Austin has been declared “whimsical and fantastic” (Dallas Morning News), “effortlessly striking” (Dance View Times), and “meaningful” (Pointe magazine). The New York Times observed that Mills, “...innovate(s) by using the body in ways that depart from balletic convention.”  Ballet Austin is the 15th largest classical ballet company in the country and also operates the largest combined training facility associated with a professional ballet company in the Unites States.

Synopsis
Light / The Holocaust & Humanity Project is a story of survival. Situated during the catastrophic events of the Holocaust, this work strives to illustrate the courage, resilience and perseverance required to endure and rebuild life after unimaginable and devastating loss. I am grateful to Naomi Warren and the many survivors who shared their testimony during the creation of this work. I am forever changed by this knowledge and hope that by my sharing Naomi’s story, others will be affected to fight indifference and intolerance when witnessed – Stephen Mills

The work unfolds as Naomi's reflections on her life.

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:
Dennis Russell Davies (Performs Philip Glass, Movement 2)

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.

The Honorable Bill Nelson, United States Senate
The Honorable Gwen Margolis, Florida State Senate
The Honorable Cynthia Stafford, Florida House of Representatives
The Honorable Carlos Gimenez, Mayor, Miami-Dade County
The Honorable Tomas Regalado, Mayor, City of Miami
The Honorable Matti Bower, Mayor, City of Miami Beach


Adrienne Arsht, Philanthropist
Marleine Bastien, Executive Director Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami, Inc., Haitian Women of Miami
Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Mike Eidson, Chairman, Performing Arts Center Trust, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
Jeffrey P. Freimark, Chief Executive Officer, Miami Jewish Health Systems
Seth Gadinsky, National Commissioner, Anti-Defamation League
Andrew Hall, Chairman, Holocaust Memorial Committee, Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Yael Hershfield, Interim Regional Director/Florida Region, Anti-Defamation League
Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff, Director, University of Miami Holocaust Teacher Institute & Education Specialist, Miami Dade County Public Schools
The Honorable Eva Alexandra Countess Kendeffy, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
David Lawrence, Jr., President, The Early Childhood Initiative Foundation
Thomas LeBlanc, Executive Vice President & Provost, University of Miami
Richard C. Milstein, Board Member, Performing Arts Center Trust, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
Harve A. Mogul, President & CEO, United Way of Miami-Dade
CJ Ortuño, Executive Director, Save Dade
John Richard, President & CEO, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County
Rev. Dr. Walter Richardson, Chairman of the Miami-Dade County Community Relations Board
Dr. Mark B. Rosenberg, President, Florida International University
Vera Saeme, Amnesty International
Rabbi Solomon Schiff, Chairman Emeritus, Holocaust Memorial of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Chaim Shacham, Consul General of Israel to Florida and Puerto Rico
Ruth Shack, President Emeritus, Miami Foundation
Roberta Shevin, Executive Director, Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews
Jacob Solomon, President & CEO, Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Alexandra Villoch, Senior Vice President of Advertising & Marketing, Miami Herald Media Company (MCCJ)

Thank you for your instrumental leadership, support, and advocacy on behalf of this community-wide initiative.

Media Sponsors:

Jewish Museum of Florida presents
Mosaic: Jewish Life in Florida Core Exhibit
Ongoing
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Pridelines Youth Services present
Rainbow Circle
Every Monday 6-8pm
PYS Drop-in Center, 9526 NE 2nd Ave, #104,Miami Shores, FL 33138                 
UM Flipse Building, Room 302, 5656 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables, FL 33146
Free
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Adrienne Arsht Center presents
AileyCamp Miami Final Performance
August 4, 7pm
Knight Concert Hall
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The Anti-Defamation League presents
Becoming an Ally: Interrupting Name Calling and Bullying
August 15, Henry M. Flagler Elementary School
August 27, Perrine Elementary School
August 31, North Glade Elementary School
September 11, Somerset Academy
September 14, Blue Lakes Elementary School
September 19, Palmetto Elementary School
September 20, Coral Reef Elementary School
September 28, Pinecrest Elementary School
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The Anti-Defamation League presents
General Anti-Bias & Diversity Training
September 6, Bowman Ashe/Doolin K-8 Center
September 7, Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial High School
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Jewish Museum of Florida presents
Once Upon a Time in Lithuania & The Florida Connection
Through September 30, 2012
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GableStage presents
Ruined
September 8 - October 7
GableStage at the Biltmore
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The Anti-Defamation League presents
National Youth Leadership Mission Pre-Trip Meeting #1
September 10
Ransom Everglades School
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YES Institute presents
Gender Continuum ™
September 22, 9am-5pm
YES Institute
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Deciphering the Matrix of Orientation™
September 23, 9am-5pm
YES Institute
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WPBT2 presents
Half the Sky
PBS film turning oppression into opportunity for women worldwide.
October 1 & 2 from 9-11 pm on WPBT2
More information
Free Preview Screening of Half the Sky
September 27 @ 6:30-8:30pm
Little Haiti Cultural Center, Miami
RSVP

Zoetic Stage and the Adrienne Arsht Center present
I Am My Own Wife
October 4-21, Thu-Sat @ 7:30pm; Sun @ 4pm
Carnival Studio Theater in the Ziff Ballet Opera House
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The Social Y and the Adrienne Arsht Center present
The Miami Stars Red Carpet Youth Celebration Event
Paul's Paradigm ©
October 6, 5pm
Peacock Foundation Studio
Free
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The Anti-Defamation League presents
National Youth Leadership Mission Pre-Trip Meeting #2
October 9
Ransom Everglades School
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Bass Museum of Art presents
Nazi-era Provenance Research and the Restitution of Old Master Paintings: Recent Successes and Setbacks.
October 11, 1pm
Lindemann Family Creativty Center, Bass Muesum of Art
Free with museum admission
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Adrienne Arsht Center presents
HOLOCAUST STUDIES COMMUNITY SYMPOSIUM
October 13
Knight Concert Hall
What We Know About the Holocaust, What We Have Learned and What We Still Need to Know
Dr. Michael Berenbaum
8pm
*Presented in partnership with WLRN
Free

Sunday October 14
Knight Concert Hall
The Twisted Road to Auschwitz From Nazi Ideology to Annihilation:
A  Visual Historical Overview of the Holocaust as told in the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Dr. William Meinecke
10-11:45am
Free

The Healing Profession during Auschwitz -- From Mengele to Medical Resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto
Dr. Cheyenne Martin
12:45-2pm
Free

The Holocaust as Reflected in Literature, Diaries and Memoirs
Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff
2:15-3:15pm
Free

America's Response to the Holocaust through the Eyes of Political Cartoonists
Dr. Rafael Medoff
3:30-4:30pm
Free

The Power of Film in Holocaust Reflection “The Pigeon”
4:30-5pm
Dr. Miriam Klein Kassenoff
*Presented in partnership with The Holocaust Memorial, Greater Miami Jewish Federation
Free

Jewish Museum of Florida presents
Project Mah Jongg
October 16, 2012 – March 17, 2013
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Jack and Harriet Rosenfeld Foundation Program in Jewish Education at the University of Miami School of Education and Human Development presents
Where Ethics Meets History: A Synthesis of Values, Sacred Texts and the Humanities
October 22, 4pm
Center for Advancement of Jewish Education, Miami
October 24, 4pm
Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County
More information
Facing History and Ourselves Website

Jack and Harriet Rosenfeld Foundation Program in Jewish Education at the University of Miami School of Education and Human Development presents
The Bullied, the Bully and the Community...Identity, Membership and Responsibility To Each Other
October 23, 4pm
Center for Advancement of Jewish Education, Miami
October 25, 4pm
Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County
More information
Facing History and Ourselves Website

Bass Museum of Art presents
The Rape of Europa
October 25, 1pm
Bass Muesum of Art
Free with museum admission
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Adrienne Arsht Center and the Bill of Rights Institute present
Religious Liberty: The American Experiment All Together Now
Professional Development Seminar for Social Studies Teachers
October 26
Peacock Foundation Education Center
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Dave and Mary Alper JCC present
Holocaust Workshop for Public and Private School Teachers with Author Doreen Rappaport
October 26
Workshop –  8:30am must sign up in advance
Public and Private School Teachers
Author presentation at 1pm - open to the community
Dave and Mary Alper JCC, 11155 SW 112 Avenue, Miami, FL 33176
Free
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Miami Children's Chorus and the Adrienne Arsht Center present
Sing, Miami! All Together Now
Brundibar and other selections
October 27, 1:30pm
Knight Concert Hall
Free
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Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center presents
Yad b'Yad ("Hand in Hand"): Holocaust Conversations Across Generations
October 28, 11:30am - 1:30pm
Aventura Turnberry Jewish Center: 20400 NE 30th Avenue, Aventura, FL 33180
Free
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Alper JCC and The Anti-Defamation League present
Running the Rift with author Naomi Benaron
October 30, 7:30pm
Bet Breira Samu-El Or Olom, 9400 SW 87th Avenue, Miami FL
$10
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Jewish Museum of Florida presents
From Home to Home: Jewish Immigration to America
October 30, 2012 – January 27, 2013
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Adrienne Arsht Center presents
Family Fest
Miami Music Project
Celebrating children, youth and the power of music to bring freedom hope and harmony to the world
November 3, 1:30pm
Knight Concert Hall
Free
More information coming soon!

Adrienne Arsht Center presents
Ballet Austin in Light/The Holocaust & Humanity Project
November 3 & 4
Ziff Ballet Opera House
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The Anti-Defamation League presents
Trickery, Trolling, and Threats
November 6
Phyllis Miller Elementary School
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The Anti-Defamation League presents
National Youth Leadership Mission Pre-Trip Meeting #3
November 7
Ransom Everglades School
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The Anti-Defamation League presents
National Youth Leadership Mission - Trip
November 11-14
Washington D.C.
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The New World Symphony and the Holocaust Memorial of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation Present:
Inside the Music: Commemorating Kristallnacht
Songs of the Holocaust
November 13
Suntrust Pavilion, New World Center
Free
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Community events will be added as they are confirmed.