USA / 2024 / 75 min / English / Documentary
The story of legendary 1920’s New Orleans dancers, two Jewish sisters and glittering globetrotters who fled antisemitism in Hungary in 1922 to blaze their own trail as contortionist acrobatic performers. They rose to international stardom and danced through every war before retiring to New Orleans, where they became recluses, painting their creole cottage top to bottom with magnificent polka dots. After they died, their neighbor found thousands of costumes in their home, which she then sold in a yard sale that last 5 years. Their story has inspired countless artists, who have created award-winning plays, dance tributes, paintings and poetry based on the extraordinary story of these sisters.
DIRECTOR: Marci’s literary prowess is evident through her five bestselling books and her published works in esteemed publications such as the NYTimes, Boston Globe, and Oprah Magazine. Her ability to captivate audiences with her writing has earned her recognition and respect within the industry.
Marci is an esteemed educator, currently serving as Adjunct Faculty at Endicott College. Her passion for integrating art into teaching strategies has led her to instruct and inspire educators on innovative approaches to education. Marci’s dedication to learning is demonstrated by her Master’s degree in Education from Harvard, a BA in Creative Writing from UCLA, and a Certificate in Writing from Stanford.
Marci’s involvement in the film industry is extensive, having worked at the Sundance Film Institute and Film Festival, as well as serving on the Short Film Selection Committee for five years. Her expertise and discerning eye have also been utilized on the Short and Feature Film Selection Committees for the Big Apple Film Festival and Boston Film Festival.
DIRECTOR STATEMENT: One winter night, I woke from a dream knowing what I must do: tell the story of Nita & Zita. Why? Two reasons: 1. The story was a wildfire in my soul, burning with the message that the story of the sisters must not be forgotten. 2. The story would be a love letter to my soulmate and dance partner Kim, who had died in 2018. Our “Nita Zita” years were our golden years together, and telling the story of these sisters was my way of reliving our Royal Palace days, days of wine and roses, poetry and cartwheels, wild parties, winking sequins, stage lights, and quiet nights together.
Very little was known about these Jewish Hungarian sisters, in fact, no one even knew if they were really sisters. What was known was the myths: they were glittering globetrotters who danced their way around the world before settling in New Orleans and becoming reclusive eccentrics. They died alone and are buried in the pauper’s section of the Hebrew Rest Cemetery, the only attendees at their services was their neighbor and the Rabbi. Their story could have ended there, but it did not.
Contact: princessdelaluna@gmail.com
Special Guests: Marci Darling Johnson, Sharon Gillen
Sponsored by:
