Granddaughter Turns Holocaust Story Into Dance Tour

When words aren't enough to tell a family's story, sometimes dance can bridge the gap between past and present.

Choreographer Shany Dagan created "3rd Gen: A Survivor's Story," a two-person dance performance inspired by her Holocaust survivor grandparents' memoir. Between February 26 and 28, the piece will tour through the Berkshires with free performances and workshops designed to educate young people about antisemitism and intolerance.

Dancers Morgana Mauney and Yochai Greenfeld bring Dagan's grandparents' experiences to life through movement and original music. The production comes to the community through Sherry Londe, a Great Barrington dance teacher and Mauney's mother, who saw an opportunity to share something meaningful with her neighbors.

The tour kicks off with a free performance at Jacob's Pillow on February 26, followed by a talk with the creators and performers. The next day, students in grades 8 through 12 at Mount Everett High School will experience the piece during a special assembly.

Why This Inspires

Londe explains the mission simply: "to educate people about antisemitism and, by extension, intolerance, hateful rhetoric, distrust, and fear." In a time when divisiveness feels normal, she believes sharing personal stories can help people see beyond differences.

Dance serves as an unexpected entry point for difficult conversations. By witnessing movement that expresses lived experiences, audiences find common ground in ways traditional storytelling might miss.

The tour wraps up February 28 with a community workshop at Berkshire Pulse where participants explore their own family stories through movement. Students ages 13 and up will learn choreography from the show while reflecting on words or phrases from their own heritage.

The Jewish Federation and Women's Foundation of the Berkshires are underwriting costs to keep the Jacob's Pillow performance free, though registration is required. The workshop costs just $20, making these powerful lessons accessible to nearly everyone.

Londe hopes audiences will become better listeners and find new ways of seeing people different from themselves.