Arts

Preserving Holocaust Survivor Stories Through Dance

by Jules Becker
Thursday Oct 20, 2022

Choreographer Rachel Linsky in her new work "Hidden" Photo by Nicole Volpe.
Choreographer Rachel Linsky in her new work "Hidden" Photo by Nicole Volpe.  

Hidden, Plaza Black Box Theatre, Boston Center for the Arts, October 20-22. bostontheatrescene or
617-933-8600.


Rachel Linsky has found a novel way of giving permanence to the testimonies of Holocaust survivors—namely memory-rich dance pieces performed as part of ZACHOR (Remember), an on-going project she began three and a half years ago to preserve the memories of survivors through dance. In her effort "to create opportunities for Holocaust education," the Newton-raised, Brighton-based dancer/choreographer—whose own paternal grandmother and a cousin were survivors—has been working on a collaborative piece entitled "Hidden" over the past few years.

Recently, the Elon University graduate (bachelor of fine arts in dance and choreography and bachelor of arts administration) outlined the evolution of the piece, which will have its premiere October 20-22 at the Boston Center for the Arts' Plaza Black Box Theatre.

"Hidden," the Chelsea Theatre Works artist-in-residence explained, focuses on the memories and journey of Aaron Elster, a Holocaust survivor who was actually hidden for two years in the attic of a Polish family (with his older sister Irene in plain sight pretending to be the Gurskis' maid) until the liberation in 1945. Elster (who passed away in 2018 at the age of 88) recounted his experiences in a memoir entitled "I Still See Her Haunting Eyes: The Holocaust & a Hidden Child Named Aaron." (Vice president of the Illinois Holocaust Museum, he regularly spoke to student groups). Linsky observed, "Aaron really wanted the book to be written from his perspective as a ten and eleven year old child."

Reflecting that perspective and Elster's determination to have younger generations understand, Linsky worked with both professional dancers and teen participants—Jewish and non-Jewish. "The first iteration," she noted, "was mostly on Zoom with rehearsals at their respective homes." Eventually (2020-2021) "each dancer selected a memory that resonated most from the book for a two-minute solo." She noted, "Once everyone was vaccinated (2021),"we started to put together the solo movements."

Together "they're meant to represent Aaron's memories," she said. Son Steven Elster, who shares his father's story as a speaker, helped Linsky, who wanted to be "as close to the source as possible." He will be in Boston for all three performances—which will be followed by short Q & A's.

Linsky sees the 45-minute piece—with professional dancers and teen participants—seamlessly moving through the solos as it evokes the challenges of Elster's attic hiding. "He (Elster) develops so much mental strength," she submitted. "There's a sense of return to the attic (purposely empty onstage), his safe haven." Dancers engage in "very athletic movement on top of the attic (here a very big triangle). The work also includes five minutes of dance by the teen participants. "The teens are essentially the ending," Linsky observed. That 'ending' will include "memories and reflections on what actions need to be taken to keep it (the Holocaust) from happening again." Among the teens are participants from different Boston area schools—among them Urbanity dance and Gann Academy.
Concerned about Holocaust education, Linsky admitted, "I'm haunted by the idea of what happens when there are no survivors left." Going forward, she alerted, "Holocaust education has to be required and built into curriculum." Linsky and her dancers' 13 minute "Hidden" film, created during their collaboration and inspired by Aaron Elster, could be part of that curriculum. Interested parties can contact her at rachellinsky411@gmail.com. Elster's interactive hologram can be found in the Illinois Holocaust Museum's Take a Stand Center.