Two Jewish-American choreographers and their New York-based dance companies joined with German partners to launch a series of events titled, "Dances for the Blue House" that respond through dance to the historical events that led to the destruction of the European Jewish community during WWII. An 18-month planning period for a program of creative and educational projects began in the Fall of 2004 with meetings in New York City; continued and culminated in performances, workshops and other public events centered in the small town of Breisach, and expanding outwards to Freiburg, Frankfurt, Berlin and the Eastern States of Germany in June and July, 2006.

During the week of January 27th, 2005, the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz, the American choreographers Aviva Geismar and Jonathan Hollander traveled to Germany on a grant from the U.S. Government to present their project “Dances for the Blue House.” Dancers, students, teachers, community, foundation, corporate and government leaders helped to strengthen and expand the project into a truly bilateral effort. Together they have forged a joint approach to the exploration of a universal issue: how do the next generations of Germans and Americans respond to the Holocaust?

Please see Freiburg, Germany 2006 Narrative for further information on Battery Dance's time in Germany and their participation with the project, "Dances for the Blue House".