The Jewish Innovation
The Sarasota-Manatee Dance Alliance (SMDA) collaborative project “Voices of the Holocaust” brings to life songs that were composed in the ghettos and camps of World War II. The 22-part cantata was arranged for live chorale and orchestra by contemporary composer Sheridan Seyfried. Now, for the first time, this collaborative performance with Gloria Musicae and other performing arts groups, will include original choreography that embodies and dramatizes the inspirational music, created by Elizabeth Weil Bergmann, former Dance Director at Harvard University. We are seeking support for the dance segment of the piece, a collaboration between 20 dancers, 150 singers, and musicians. “Voices” will be performed on April 28, 2014—International Holocaust Remembrance Day—at Van Wezel Hall, Sarasota, Florida’s largest performing arts center. The program will include an educational guide to be used in conjunction with additional performances in schools 2014-2015. The project brings together dancers of a wide range of ages, ethnicities, and training from all over the world.
The Impact
“Voices of the Holocaust” is a gift from its composers that pays forward each time it is performed. On its own, the music is deeply moving, heart-rending, and uplifting—a stunning exemplar of the Jewish ability to create art and beauty from the depths of despair. Now, further embodied and dramatized by dance, “Voices” is brought squarely into our contemporary world where its message can reverberate. By fully harnessing the emotion of choreography, the composers of these songs are not lost to us, but continue to teach us to this day to prevent further genocide by stamping out the seeds that can lead to it: intolerance, racial hatred, and bullying. “Voices” allows the light of our ancestors to shine and illuminate all they touch.
Our project is a true community-wide collaboration that brings together Jewish and non-Jewish participants—the dancers of the Sarasota-Manatee Dance Alliance; the singers of Gloria Musicae, Sarasota Young Voices, the Sarasota Jewish Chorale, and Booker High School music program; and professional musicians—all in celebration of these “Voices of the Holocaust” we still desperately need to hear today.
What Will You Do with the Money?
Donations for the “Voices of the Holocaust” Jewcer campaign will be specifically devoted to the dance segment of this collaborative project between the Sarasota-Manatee Dance Alliance and the music presenters. Funds will be used to pay our hard-working and dedicated dancers, choreographer, rehearsal assistant, and costume designer. Funds will also be used for the cost of costumes. In addition, donations will help us extend the life of the project – with an educational “afterlife” to include editing of a DVD of the performance, and to pay dancers for participating in school performances of segments of “Voices of the Holocaust” in 2014-2015. Note that conductor, singers, and musicians involved in the project, along with the rental of the performing arts hall, advertising, a printed program and educational guide, and other project costs are being funded in a separate budget, and are not part of the Jewcer campaign. Note too that the choreography and rehearsal sessions for “Voices” have been underway for several months. The Sarasota-Manatee Dance Alliance has already raised funds to cover the rental of rehearsal space, which we have not included in the Jewcer campaign budget.
