We are very pleased to announce that the United Nations Foundation and United Nations Association have selected our original production “The Little Lantern Ballet©” to screen as the culminating event in the 75th anniversary celebration of the signing of the UN Charter, on June 27th, 2020 at 2pm.
The performance will follow an interfaith service, hosted by the UNA-SF Partners, United Religions Initiative and Grace Cathedral.
Registration is available at https://www.un75-sf.org/.
More information about the event is available below.
The Charter of the United Nations was signed on June 26th, 1945, in San Francisco at the conclusion of the UN Conference on International Organization. Presidio Dance Theatre’s two decades of commitment to cross-cultural dialogue, preservation of intangible heritage, women’s empowerment, human rights, and social justice make the organization a perfect fit for the event.
In 2006, Sherene Melania fell in love with Ghassan Kanafani's children's story, "The Little Lantern", and its ability to present how collaboration, despite gender, social standing, or pre-existing borders, transcends difficult circumstances and unifies us. Melania created a dance adaptation that exposed audiences to the rich cultural traditions of the Near and Middle East, and generated an appreciation for our mutual humanity. With a captivating score by composers George Somi and Fathi Aljarah, and featuring the Aswat choir, The Little Lantern Ballet© is interspersed with narration and audience participation. Showcasing costumes and sets designed and created by artists of the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, Russia, this fusion of Near-Middle Eastern folkloric music and dance with classical ballet has thrilled audiences since its premiere in 2014.