Ballet Quad Cities is honored to present an original program of four ballet pieces that embody the stories, emotion, the history and hope surrounding the Holocaust.

Original choreography by Courtney Lyon and Emily Kate Long

The pieces are accompanied by violinist Emily Nash, associate concertmaster of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. Nash has shared the stage with internationally acclaimed musicians representing a variety of genres, is tenured with the Sinfonietta Orchestra of Chicago, and resides in the Chicago suburbs.

Infinity

Music: Gideon Klein, Fantasy and Fugue

Dancer: Madeline Kreszenz

Infinity is inspired by a work of art by Orion Middle School 6th grader Eve Wilbur titled “Infinite Tears”. In Eve’s words, “In my artwork, you will see crystal tears hung in the infinity symbol, which reflects the idea that all the tears that have been shed have infinite value. When we choose to reflect and remember our past, including the pain and sorrow, only then will we see meaningful change.” Infinite Tears won third place in the Meyer and Frances Shnurman Holocaust Visual Arts Contest.

Kaddish

Music: Sándor Kuti, Sonata for Solo Violin

Dancers: Madeleine Rhode and Marcus Pei

“Kaddish is the mourner’s prayer of the Jews, requesting eternal bliss for the deceased and peace for all who mourn.” Mauricio Lasansky’s series of eight prints, Kaddish, appeared ten years after Nazi Drawings, his statement of Nazi destruction and degradation. This duet, based on Lasansky’s prints, captures the grief, hope and peace embedded in the experiences of the victims and survivors. The female dancer is dressed in white as the dove in the top half of the prints, symbolizing grace and support to the mourner. The male dancer represents each figure depicted in the lower half of the prints.

Quack, Quack, Quack

Music: Rudolf Karel, Pankrácká Polka

Choreography by Courtney Lyon

Anne Frank is known for her diary, but even as a child, she wrote many stories to amuse herself and her friends. “Quack, Quack, Quack Went Mrs. Quackenbush” is a short story Anne wrote as a response to the punishment she received from her math teacher for talking too much. Her sense of humor and intelligence shine in her words! Anne’s humorous tale is paired with Czech composer Rudolf Karel’s bright polka. He continued to compose music while imprisoned, using small pieces of charcoal or stubs of pencils to write his music on tissue paper. This is a unique and thoughtful pairing of Anne’s fun short story and Karel’s lively music.

Radio Overture

Pavel Haas, Overture for Radio, op. 46

Choreography by Emily Kate Long

Haas’ Overture for Radio is for four male voices and orchestra, and celebrates the technology of radio, which held so much promise for positive communication. The final line is “...north with south and the west and the east shake hands, we immediately embrace the whole world.” Sadly, however, radio also became part of the machinery of Nazi propaganda.