During the Holocaust, four women lost their lives after an attempt to revolt against the Natzi's: Róa Robota, Estera Wajcblum, Regina Szafirsztajn, Ala Gernter. By smuggling gunpowder under their nail beds and in the bodies of their murdered friends they were able to help destroy Crematorium IV on Oct 7th, 1944. Somehow their heroic venture was not recognized in history books.
The world premiere of choreographer Jonah Bokaer's "Four Women," a dance/film installation inspired by four women who were hanged for their participation in an attempted rebellion against the Natzi's on October 7, 1944 at Auschwitz, opened at the Center for Jewish History on October 7. This film is part of an exhibition entitled "October 7, 1944," which takes place within the Popper Gallery at the Center for Jewish History. Details:
"October 7, 1944" is open to the public Monday, 5pm-8pm, Wednesday, 11am-8pm; and Friday, 11am-2:30pm. The exhibition closes December 30.
Tickets: Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday are $8.00 for adults, and $6.00 for seniors and students. Monday, Wednesday(5pm-8pm) and Friday free.
The Popper Gallery is located at the Center for Jewish History in New York City, 15 West 16th Street.
Jonah Bokaer has cultivated a new form of a choreography with a structure that relies on visual art and
Bokaer was born to Tunisian and American parents, and has been active as a choreographer since 2002. He has created over 55 works in a wide range of mediums, such as film, opera, app, and instillation, in a variety of venues, ranging from stages, to museums and galleries. He works internationally, exhibiting and touring worldwide.
Bokaer has created works within museum spaces that live between choreography, visual
This approach to art making has been acknowledged by museums such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, PS1 MoMA, The New Museum, The Museum of Arts & Design, MASS MoCA, Miami MOCA, MAC Marseille, IVAM Valencia, Palazzo Delle Arti Napoli, Kunsthalle St. Gallen, SCAD Museum of Art, Ludwig Museum of Budapest, MUDAM Luxembourg, along with many others.
A few of Bokaer’s frequent collaborators are Daniel Arsham (2007-Present), Anne Carson, Richard Chai, Merce Cunningham, Anthony McCall, Abbott Miller, Tino Sehgal, Robert Wilson (2007-Present), along with other leading innovators in mediums such as performance, visual art, literature, and design.