YOUR MEMORY WILL NEVER BE THE SAME
With its gripping ensembles, intense partner work and evocative movement, Los Angeles Ballet’s Memoryhouse tells personal and collective stories of loss, resilience, and the events of World War II and the Holocaust that forever altered history. Breaking traditional theatrical norms, this full-evening work by Melissa Barak combines contemporary ballet with stunning immersive projections – all set to Max Richter’s memorable album of the same name. The work runs January 30, 31 & February 1, 2025 at The Wallis in Beverly Hills. Watch a preview here.
Sareen Tchekmedyian and Evan Swenson
But first, this Thursday January 23–also at the Wallis–is a special presentation of the documentary film, Making of Memoryhouse, a documentary film following choreographer Melissa Barak as she dives in head first with her creative team in order to bring a ballet inspired by the Holocaust to emotional life. Through performance and rehearsal clips, as well as interviews and powerful survivor testimony, we are brought into the creative process where Barak works on building a theatrical dance experience like no other. In partnership with Holocaust Museum LA, this special event includes a post-screening conversation with Barak, Holocaust survivors, and HMLA’s Chief Impact Officer, Jordanna Gessler.
Aviva Gelfer-Mundl and Evan Swenson
This presentation of Memoryhouse is the start of a new partnership between The Wallis and Los Angeles Ballet.
Memoryhouse is an abstract work composed of vignettes commemorating World War II and in particular, the Holocaust. Set to Max Richter’s powerful album of the same name, Memoryhouse will reflect on both the somber as well as more heroic moments that illuminate this period in human history.
Laura Chachich and Jessica Gadzinski
with Brian Simcoe, Evan Swenson, Robert Mulvey and Adrian Blake Mitchell
Memoryhouse is choreographed to Max Richter’s album Memoryhouse in its entirety and in the order it was meant to be listened to. The ballet has 18 movements which totals the number of tracks on the album. Some movements connect with others while some live on their own. No alterations have been made to the score. All electronic voices, sounds, and touches are part of the original recording.
Jessica Gadzinski and cast
Stage and Cinema‘s William Keiser said in his review of Memoryhouse at BroadStage in Santa Monica in June 2023: “Memoryhouse is haunting and elegant, and deeply emotional. It brought tears to my eyes several times and I was not alone. It was never manipulative but always gentle, poetic, and direct, guiding rather than exhorting. The long, painstaking process of creating the piece paid off clearly in the slow unfolding of historical layers. It’s the kind of work that makes one want to come back again and again, because, like in a favorite book or movie, new elements and moments will come into focus or be thrown into relief. I heartily recommend this production.”
Stephanie Kim and cast
“Dance is tricky in a sense,” said Barak. “The story of the Holocaust has such a darkness and a weight to it, the last thing you would want is for dance to take something of that nature too literally. For me, it was all about keeping it symbolic, removing the personal emotion as performers and to approach it as a ballet that focuses on symbolism and poetry.”
Barak partnered with Hagy Belzberg, Founding Partner of BA Collective and the architect of The Holocaust Museum for set design, and Sebastian Peschiera of Narduli Studio for production and projection design.
Tom Teicholz in Forbes said, “a dazzling creative accomplishment for Barak. The power and artistry of Barak’s Memoryhouse reminds us, as Balanchine said, ‘Dance is important and significant – yes. But first of all, it is a pleasure.’”
photos of Los Angeles Ballet ensemble performing Memoryhouse in June, 2023
at The Broad Stage by Cheryl Mann Photography
Memoryhouse
Bram Goldsmith Theater
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills
Thursday, January 30 at 7:30
Friday, January 31 at 7:30
Saturday, February 1 at 2 and 7:30
for tickets (starting at $59), call 310.746.4000 or visit The Wallis
