Ballet Austin's LIGHT/THE HOLOCAUST AND HUMANITY PROJECT Comes to Miami, 11/3 & 4

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County proudly presents the esteemed BALLET AUSTIN performing LIGHT / THE HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY PROJECT , a riveting contemporary ballet created by Artistic Director Stephen Mills that turns the spotlight on discrimination and the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. The performance, which inspired a community-wide human rights initiative by the same name, will take place in the Ziff Ballet Opera House on November 3 and 4, 2012.

The performance is presented with the generous support of the CIRCLE OF LIGHT, an inspirational group of individuals, corporations and foundations united in their community-minded giving for this project and led by Sue Miller, Chair of the LIGHT Steering Committee, and Knight Foundation.

Ballet Austin’s performance launches the 2012-2013 Knight Masterworks Season – Miller Family Foundation Dance Series. Tickets range from $25 to $95* and may be purchased through the Adrienne Arsht Center box office by calling (305) 949-6722 or online at www.arshtcenter.org.

Inspired by the poignant story of one Holocaust survivor, LIGHT / THE HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY PROJECT is “an elegant yet visceral story of belief, bigotry, isolation, survival and hope...a groundbreaking multimedia contemporary ballet” (Austin-American Statesman). The evening-length ballet is set to the spellbinding music of five of the most important living composers – Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Arvo Pärt, Evelyn Glennie and Michael Gordon. Created by Ballet Austin’s Artistic Director Stephen Mills, and considered his masterpiece, the work is constructed in five sections each exploring the process of and response to extreme degradation, suffering and genocide. While the work will explore the human ability to survive and triumph, it also attempts to be a warning that nobody is immune to hatred and discrimination. "Art doesn't change the world. People change the world, but art can be the catalyst for the discussion," says Stephen Mills, Artistic Director of Ballet Austin.

“Through Ballet Austin’s Light/The Holocaust and Humanity Project, audiences will experience the art form of dance as a representation, through movement, of the good and the bad we encounter throughout our lives. As powerful as only a true story can be, this ballet provides witness to the horrible transgressions upon humanity that are still relevant more than 70 years later and, most importantly, it highlights the power of hope,” said John Richard, President and CEO of the Adrienne Arsht Center. “In our role as Miami’s New Town Square, the Arsht Center has chosen to highlight this moving, universal subject by convening the community through the performing arts, lecture, discussion and film.”

L'Dor V'Dor Night – November 4
Holocaust survivors and their families are encouraged to attend the Sunday, November 4 performance, which will include a special post-show chat back with Artistic Director Stephen Mills and dancers, directly following the performance. Free for all ticket holders, this will be an opportunity to share the story and discuss the ballet across generations.

When it premiered in 2005, LIGHT / THE HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY PROJECT brought national attention to BALLET AUSTIN, with recognition across the country including national reviews proclaiming the troupe as "a company with big ambitions" originating work that is "absorbing" (New York Times). LIGHT / THE HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY PROJECT was staged by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 2009 and, most recently, BALLET AUSTIN has been invited to perform the piece at one of Israel’s largest performing arts festivals - the Acco Festival of Alternative Israeli Theatre – in September 2013.

The 75-minute ballet is performed without intermission.

LIGHT / THE HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY PROJECT culminates a community-wide collaboration organized by the Arsht Center focusing attention on the work that is being done in Miami-Dade County in Holocaust education and protection of human rights against bigotry and hate. Since the program launched in early August, 26 community organizations have participated, creating nearly 40 performances, activities, education programs and public forums.

A Steering Committee, led by esteemed philanthropist Sue Miller, has guided this project and affirmed its anti-hate message throughout Miami Dade County. The committee includes United States Senator Bill Nelson; Florida State Senator Gwen Margolis; Florida House Representative Cynthia Stafford; Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez; City of Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado; and City of Miami Beach Mayor Matti Bower.

Along with Sue Miller and Knight Foundation, leadership support for LIGHT / THE HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY PROJECT comes from The Miami Foundation and its GLBT Community Projects Fund; Targum Shlishi and Raquel and Aryeh Rubin; Northern Trust; Colson Hicks Eidson; Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Fara; Robert Russell Memorial Foundation and Norman Lipoff, and a growing circle of individual donors that includes Richard C. Milstein and Eric Hankin, Arlyn and Stephen H. Cypen, Joan Getz, Charlene and Ron Esserman, Dr. Arthur and Sari Agatston and Stephen Bittel. WPBT, WLRN 91.3 FM, CBS4 and The Miami Herald are media sponsors. For a full calendar of activities, list of Steering Committee members, partners, supporters, ticket information and more, please visit ARSHTCENTER.ORG/LIGHT.

For a full calendar of activities, list of steering committee members and partners, ticket information and more, please visit ARSHTCENTER.ORG/LIGHT.

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