The Blue House, a living museum of Jewish heritage and memorial  in Breisach, has invited the internationally renowned Battery Dance of New York to lead teachers and pupils in dance workshops in which history becomes a physical experience. The resulting choreographies will be presented as well as a performance by the professional dancers of Battery Dance on May 17 at 7 pm and on May 18 at 2 pm at Art Rhena, located on an island in the Rhine River between France and Germany.

Battery Dance‘s globally recognized methodology, “Dancing to Connect” (DtC), provides young participants with the opportunity to access their wellsprings of creativity, and in this case, to process the complex shared history of Baden and Alsace, as well as Franco-German relations, and their relevance today. These workshops are scheduled around the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s capitulation and the liberation of occupied and annexed territories. They offer the opportunity for young people to engage with historical events beyond words and history books.

During the week of May 12th, choreographies are developed by the French and German youth in which the history of “the other” forms the impetus for dance creations that come to life on stage at the end of the workshop period.  Following the performance on May 18^th, a joyous parade will take place across the bridge that connects Germany and France, leading to the ribbon cutting signifying the naming of the bridge for the murdered Alsatian resistance figher, Julius (Jules) Leber and ceremonial speeches by visiting dignitaries from France and Germany.