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Dancing Auschwitz

Dancing Auschwitz goes Viral

My motive in making 'Dancing Auschwitz' was to create a new response and a fresh interpretation of the past and its historical trauma. 

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I felt that people, especially the younger generation, were becoming desensitised and numb to the story of the Holocaust and the images that represented it. I felt a need to create artwork that woke up and reminded people of the important lessons the Holocaust and all genocide teaches us –  namely, an awareness of our own prejudices, stereotyping and intolerance.

I hoped this awareness would influence others.

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The dance represents the past, present and future generations. Not only did I want to express a celebration of life, but I also wanted to evoke the feeling of absence, loss and mourning.

 

In January, I posted the three 'Dancing Auschwitz' videos on YouTube. The first clip I Will Survive, featuring Gloria Gaynor’s song I Will Survive, went viral in just over a week. The clip shows three generations of my family dancing at concentration camps and sites throughout Europe, including Auschwitz extermination camp in Poland, Dachau in Germany, and Theresienstadt in the Czech Republic.

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My father, Adolek, an 89-year-old  Holocaust survivor, was the main protagonist. Without him we could not have done this project, and we could not have danced. At one point dad is shown making a peace sign while wearing a T-shirt with the word ‘survivor’ printed on it.

When questioned about the clip, my father responds: ‘The dancing was very important because we are alive. We survived. We were dancing to the song of survival. We also prayed for the dead at the camps before we danced.’

 

The reaction to the video after it was uploaded to Youtube was overwhelming and varied. Initially Neo Nazis responded with endless ‘hate’ messages. Then there were many that thought the video trivialised the victims’ suffering at the hands of the Nazis.

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Overall, there has been a flood of both positive as well as negative responses. A raw picture of the world's attitude towards Jews and the Holocaust has emerged.

(See below for list of links to responses)

 

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Links to Responses

The video clip ‘Dancing Auschwitz’ has been removed from my website because of a copyright infringement. It still might be possible to view it at the following sites:

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUoanho82H4&feature=related

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/81036742/

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xe1c9d_i-will-survive-dancing-auschwitz_news

 

Other people’s profit making ventures from uploading ‘Dancing Auschwitz’:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7PtrFJtseg

http://www.youtube.com/user/MsBeatguy

http://fileups.net/194VA

 

Hate/Neo Nazi sites

http://www.stormfront.org/forum/t395023-161/#post8128007.

http://www.stormfront.org/forum/t223923/

http://apnews.myway.com//article/200…D8BT4GMG0.html

http://www.stormfront.org/forum/t724658/

http://kuruc.info/r/22/61638/

 http://egymagyar.blogspot.com/2010/06/vilagszam.html

http://hotterthanapileofcurry.wordpress.com/2010/07/05/the-things-holocaust-survivors-can-get-away-with-singing-dancing-at-auschwitz/

http://thewestislamandsharia.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-will-survive-dancing-auschwitz.html

http://www.pardon.pl/artykul/11962/glupota_czy_sztuka_zydzi_tancza_disco_w_auschwitz_zobacz

 

ABC radio

http://www.abc.net.au/worldt http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/twt/201007/20100714-twt-10-survivor-dance.mp3oday/

 

Associated Press

http://www.aptnvideo.net/pages/browse/player/player_frameset.jsp?item=159875

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_gCx1EvKCs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPgKloQMeh8&NR=1

 

CBS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot9G4C8pyYA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ENKG9vXBVI&feature=related

 

BBC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2010/07/100713_auschwitz_dancing_et_sl.shtml

 

Australia

Channel 9

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/7928701/auschwitz-dance-video-causes-outrage

 

Sydney Morning Herald

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/love-and-hate-dancing-auschwitz-videos-get-a-raw-response-20100714-109xp.html

 

The Age

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/love-and-hate-dancing-auschwitz-videos-get-a-raw-response-20100714-109xp.html

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEdVvPDjFwk

http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART2/127/628.html

 

WHO magazine

http://jewishnews.net.au/news/2010/07/16/editorial-july-16-2010/14375#more-14375

http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=6681&cp=all#comments

 

Canada

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s national radio program on questions of faith and the search for meaning.

Radio Interview:

http://www.cbc.ca/tapestry/ (Sacred Ground, Part 2) Tapestry with Mary Hynes

 

Czech Republic

http://wyborcza.pl/1,75410,8124346,_Dancing_Auschwitz___Czy_tak_wolno_.html

 

Denmark

Danish newspaper Politiken

http://politiken.dk/kultur/kunst/1026879/kunstner-faar-bunker-af-hademail-for-dansevideo/

 

England

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/834948-i-will-survive-auschwitz-dance-routine-sparks-outrage

 

Eastern Slovenia 

Ben Ralston

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/08/dancing-auschwitz-love-or-hate-a-choice-we-make-each-moment/

 

France

http://observers.france24.com/fr/content/20100713-video-une-famille-danse-devant-camp-auschwitz-concentration-pologne-juive

http://www.facebook.com/l/30f17GFHyVAlIHOFoDB_54OSRaw;ninemsn.com.au

http://www.lefigaro.fr/international/2010/07/16/01003-20100716ARTFIG00359-la-danse-d-un-survivant-de-l-holocauste-fait-debat.php

http://www.france24.com/en/20100715-dancing-auschwitz-artist-unbowed-criticism

 

Germany

http://wissen.dradio.de/index.33.de.html?dram:article_id=4201

http://wissen.dradio.de/index.33.de.html?dram:article_id=4201&sid=

http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/interview_dlf/1226977/

http://www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/fotostrecke-58098.html

http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,druck-710881,00.html (Spiegel online)

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,711247,00.html (English version).

www.tagesspiegel.de/meinung/i-will-survive/1903052.html?commentSort=chrono#kommentare

http://politiken.dk/kultur/kunst/article1026879.ece (interview)

http://www.wdr.de/tv/westart/dienstag/sendungsbeitraege/2010/0831/index.jsp (West.art Magazin)

http://www.testspiel.de/archives/2010/08/10/dancing-auschwitz/

 

Nordkurier is the local newspaper of Neubrandenburg (film Festival) area:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=12ad87d3bd7e2630&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3Dc8f95c7658%26view%3Datt%26th%3D12ad87d3bd7e2630%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dattd%26realattid%3Df_gdn9x84c0%26zw&sig=AHIEtbRtEhcTz-dH0XSILhOu1M-lwzjarw

http://www.daserste.de/ttt/beitrag_dyn~uid,t9ok8znep37gkqt6~cm.asp (Das Erste.de)

http://www.3sat.de/page/?source=/kulturzeit/themen/146987/index.html (3 Sat Kulturzeit))

 

DokumentART Film Festival

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Party in Auschwitz: (angry comment) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rvf5qPG0_0&feature=related

 

Ghana

http://modrnghanaweb.com/46424tk/dancing-laughing-at-auschwitz-who-has-the-right-to.htm

 

General websites

http://showhype.com/video/i-will-survive-dancing-auschwitz/hwitz.html

http://www.viciousbabushka.com/2010/07/dancing-at-auschwitz-i-will-survive.html

http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/dancing-at-auschwitz-video-sparks-debate-about-holocaust-mourning/19558297

http://www.aolnews.com/opinion/article/opinion-dancing-at-auschwitz-its-a-me-me-me-world/19558960

http://www.menzieshouse.com.au/2010/07/i-will-survive-dancing-ausc

 

Israel

 

Jerusalem Post

http://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=190503

http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/jewish-artist-defends-youtube-video-dancing-auschwitz-1.301096

 

TV Mah Koreh

 

TV Channel 10 news

http://news.nana10.co.il/Article/?ArticleId=740577&sid=126

 

Israeli Art blogs

http://www.omanoot.org/dancing-auschwitz

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/i-will-survive-dancing-auschwitz

The foloowing is an article comparing Dancing Auschwitz with an Israeli controversial video on youtube
http://www.no-r.co.il/dancing

 

Israeli soldiers comparison (Hebrew)

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/love-and-hate-dancing-auschwitz-videos-get-a-raw-response-20100714-109xp.html

 

Hebrew links

http://www.google.co.il/search?q=%D7%92%27%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9F+%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%9E%D7%9F&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a

 

Italy

Italian Newspaper: Corriere della sera

http://www.corriere.it/esteri/10_luglio_15/video-auschwitz_137fc9fe-902e-11df-b54a-00144f02aabe.shtml

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New Zealand

http://www.jwire.com.au/news/melbourne-familys-survival-song-sweeps-the-world/10386#more-10386

http://blog.rabbijason.com/2010/07/dancing-at-auschwitz.html

The Netherlands

The State We’re In ‘Released’ On air: 4 September 2010 0:30

http://www.rnw.nl/english/radioshow/released

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Thailand

The Bangkok Post (misplaced)

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USA

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/24768/dancing-auschwitz-the-i-will-survive-controversy/

http://www.americablog.com/2010/07/sunday-morning-open-thread.html

American guy discussing clip in home video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTjLJ3K_mSY&feature=related

Appropriation of Dancing Auschwitz: Trance Version

VJRexBuchanan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kxxwPHVLUY&feature=related

TIME Newsfeed

http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/07/19/he-survived-dancing-video-at-auschwitz-sparks-web-debate/

http://www.americablog.com/2010/07/sunday-morning-open-thread.html

http://dirty.ru/comments/281354
http://thedailywh.at/post/794436137/well-this-is-something-y

Radio Interview: CBC Radio Arts & Entertainment 

http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=1552697231

http://www.cbc.ca/q/episodes/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTjLJ3K_mSY

The Seattle Times

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012384610_auschwitz18.html

Philadelphia

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/world_us/20100716_A_dance_at_Auschwitz_draws_viewers__controversy.html

Toronto

JEWCY radio interview

https://rcpt.yousendit.com/912445169/92de253065deebf456a06d660fe967be

Colombia interview

http://www.citytv.com.co/canal/tiempo_real

http://blog.rabbijason.com/2010/07/dancing-at-auschwitz.html

http://www.zgeek.com/content.php/3352-Zie-Dance-of-Zie-Jews?commentid=1608657

North Carolina

http://news.suite101.com/article.cfm/dancing-auschwitz-stirs-controversy-a261156

Detroit (Rabbis Without Borders)

http://blog.rabbijason.com/2010/07/dancing-at-auschwitz.html

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Poland:

http://wyborcza.pl/1,75402,8124346,_Dancing_Auschwitz___Czy_tak_wolno_.html

http://boortz.com/nealz_nuze/2010/07/nazi-fail.html

http://www.topix.com/forum/world/poland/TLU7J5S6I6F13EBI5

http://www.dzienniklodzki.pl/kultura/kochamlodz/310308,lodzianin-przezyl-getto-i-oswiecim-powrocil-by-zatanczyc,id,t.html?cookie=1#material_1 (newspaper article from ‘Dziennik Lodzki.’ 26.9.10)

http://www.pardon.pl/artykul/11962/glupota_czy_sztuka_zydzi_tancza_disco_w_auschwitz_zobacz

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Portugal

http://www.publico.pt/Mundo/sobrevivente-do-holocausto-danca-i-will-survive-em-auschwitz_1451278

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG-8Zem6_F4&feature=related

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Russia

http://dirty.ru/comments/281354

http://thedailywh.at/post/794436137/well-this-is-something-you-dont-see-every-day-of#disqus_thread

Upcoming Interviews

Chris.Chambers@rnw.nl

Producer ‘The State We’re In’

Radio Netherlands Worldwide

‘The State We’re In’ is broadcast worldwide via short-wave and satellite but is also re-broadcast by many national stations such CBC in Canada, ABC in Australia, SABC in South Africa and numerous NPR stations in the US including WNYC and WAMU.

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(Dear Jane,

 I have a feeling you might be getting rather a lot of e-mails at the moment! I’m not phoning direct because perhaps you’ve taken your phone off the hook.

Anyway, I’m of course writing to see whether you’d be interested in being interviewed about the ‘I Will Survive’ video.

 I’m the producer of a weekly radio programme called ‘The State We’re In’ that is broadcast around the world. It’s predominantly a ‘human rights’ programme with each edition having a theme. It’s a programme of strong personal stories and we allow lots of air time for each story (unusually). So, perhaps you’ve already done a few interviews but I think this would be a little different.)

 

fotos@freundin.burda.com

hello jane korman,

My name is Florian stern and I am working for a German woman’s magazine called DONNA. We are doing a double page artikle about “women that moved us” this year and we would also like to introduce you and your art work “I will survive”.

Lea.Wind-Friis@pol.dk

Dear Jane,

 

I would love to do a quick interview with you via phone about the reactions to the dancing video with your father, Adolek Kohn, to I Will Survive. You probably get a lot of these kinds of requests these days, but it doesn’t have to take more then 15-20 minutes.

 

Please let me know how or when to reach you. And where you are, so we can take the time difference into account. I am based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

Kind regards, Lea Wind-Friis

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Wikio

http://www.wikio.com/video/survive-dancing-auschwitz-3623106?start=15&count=15&sort=0

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Blogs

http://hubpages.com/hub/Dancing-at-Auschwitz-I-Will-Survive-Holocaust-Memorial

http://truepenny.livejournal.com/759788.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1294030/Anger-Australian-Jew-films-video-family-singing-I-Will-Survive-trip-Auschwitz.html

http://thejewishstar.wordpress.com/2010/07/09/work-won%E2%80%99t-set-you-free-perhaps%C2%A0dancing/

http://sdjewishworld.wordpress.com/2010/07/19/the-jews-down-under-roundup-of-australian-jewish-news-11/

Dancing Auschwitz

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Note: some sites may have been removed

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