In the Memory of the Forest

The other day I stopped by the ODC Dance Commons to watch a rehearsal for "In the Memory of the Forest," a piece that has its world premiere next week. Given that I'm a huge fan of both classical ballet and pop-ballroom dance (ie. the cheesy but delightful "So You Think You Can Dance"), watching modern dancers rehearse was a little slice of perfection.

The dance is loosely based upon the choreographer's mother-in-law's escape from the Nazis in Poland in 1941. That much I knew from the press release. But I didn't know the details of her escape, and so I spent the hour trying to interpret the beautiful, graceful and at times frantic movements of the dancers. It's a fun thought exercise and I'd highly recommend going to see it at Yerba Buena Arts Center or at the Contemporary Jewish Museum.

I had the privilage of talking to the choreographer, Brenda Way, after the rehearsal. She had had a long day and a recently broken rib, so she poured a small glass of red wine and sat across from me at a table in the corner of her office. It was raining while we spoke. She gave me such thoughtful answers, and one in particular sticks out in my mind. I began to ask her something about how to design a dance based on the Holocaust and she interrupted me and said, "This is not about the Holocaust. It's about love." She went on to explain that the essence of the dance is about the human spirit her mother-in-law held tightly to, a strength that motivated her during her year-long journey from Warsaw to Moscow in search of her one true love. (They ended up married and had several children and grandchildren together.)

So go see "In the Memory of the Forest." I'd venture to say the dance won't bring you down -- it will inspire, lift you up, remind you of the resilience of humanity.

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