ARBEIT MACHT FREI – Choreography by Darren McIntyre
Arbeit macht frei is a German phrase meaning “Work makes [one] free,” or more idiomatically, “Work sets you free” or “Work liberates.”
Today, “Arbeit macht frei” is recognised globally as a chilling emblem of the Holocaust. The original gate bearing the phrase at Auschwitz was stolen in 2009, subsequently recovered, and now resides in the Auschwitz museum; a replica stands at the camp entrance. The phrase is a stark reminder of the horrors perpetrated, demonstrating how language was manipulated to conceal oppression. Its intended message of moral or personal liberation was twisted into an instrument of terror and death.
This rehearsal video was recorded during the final stages of the creative process. The piece was commissioned for, and performed by, The Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet.
DARREN McINTYRE 