Background: Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, 1943: In 1939, hundreds of thousands of Polish Jews were rounded up and put into a segregated area that became known as the Warsaw Ghetto. From April 19 to May 16, 1943, leader Mordecai Anielewicz led his guerrilla warriors, the Jewish Fighting Organization in a valiant uprising and fought back against Nazi brutality at the cost of many lives and in the face of impossible odds.

I Can’t Go On evokes the terror experienced by leader Mordecai Anielewicz, and Mira Fuchrer as they are chased by their enemies in search of refuge. In this poignant and heart-wrenching pas de deux, together they find the courage and strength needed to go on. Ballet Espressivo dancers, Anton Pasquarella and Kalie Hunter, portray the nobility of these fighters’ struggle. I Can’t Go On, an excerpt from Uprising the dancedrama, by choreographer, Donna Greenberg, is inspired by this darkly heroic story.

Choreographer: Donna Greenberg

Dancers from Ballet Espressivo: Kalie Hunter, Anton Pasquarella

Director of Photography: Hal Swann

Assistant to the Director of Photography: Christi Johnson

Second Camera: Evereth Palomeque Jr.

Still Photographer: Christi Johnson

Lighting Designer: Gabriel Cropley

Editor: Hal Swann

Costumes: Sylvia Minarcin

Make-up: Christi Johnson

Music: Nigel Simmons:Devil’s Candy Shop: performed by Nigel Simmons Edward Elgar: Cello Concerto, Op. 85, e minor, Adagio: performed by: The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Eri Klas, conductor, Steven Isserlis, cello. Broadcast originally on CBC radio program Radio Concert Hall on January 10, 1997. Courtesy of CBC.

Producer: Donna Greenberg

Director: Donna Greenberg