Charles Dharapak

D-DAY NOTEBOOK: Old film, new dance recall history

Actors perform as President Barack Obama watches the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of D-Day at Sword Beach in Ouistreham, France, Friday, June 6, 2014. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Ian Langsdon

D-DAY NOTEBOOK: Old film, new dance recall history

Colored smoke fills the sky as WWII veterans stand to attention flanked by children during an international ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Allied landings on D-Day on Sword Beach in Ouistreham, in Normandy, France, Friday, June 6 June 2014. World leaders and veterans gathered by the beaches of Normandy on Friday to mark the 70th anniversary of World War Two’s D-Day landings. (AP Photo/Ian Langsdon, Pool)

Regis Duvignau

D-DAY NOTEBOOK: Old film, new dance recall history

U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and French President Francois Hollande, right, walk with World War II veteran Kenneth “Rock” Merritt as they arrive for the official lunch at Benouville castle, in Normandy, France, Friday, June 6, 2014. World leaders and veterans paid tribute on the 70th anniversary of the World War Two D-Day landings to soldiers who fell in the liberation of Europe from Nazi German rule, as host France sought to use the event to achieve a thaw in the Ukraine crisis. (Regis Duvignau, pool)

Joe Giddens

D-DAY NOTEBOOK: Old film, new dance recall history

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II smiles whilst speaking to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, right, whilst watching a dramatic performance on Sword Beach during the Commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Normandy D-Day landings, in Ouistreham, France, Friday June 6, 2014. Some 19 world leaders, more than 1,000 veterans and many others gathered to honor the troops and civilians who fell in mighty battles that helped bring Europe peace and unity. (AP Photo / Joe Giddens, PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT – NO SALES – NO ARCHIVES

Posted: Friday, June 6, 2014 12:51 pm
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Updated: 7:00 pm, Fri Jun 6, 2014.

D-DAY NOTEBOOK: Old film, new dance recall history

Associated Press |

BENOUVILLE, France (AP) — Historical film footage and modern interpretive dance recreated the images of World War II at D-Day’s 70th anniversary, a blend of old and new that bridged seven decades and depicted a once riven Europe as a newly unified whole.

The dance performance took place across a giant map of Europe. Near its start, dancers in black Gestapo-like uniforms sought to subdue others in overalls. Dancers in olive drab represented the landing on Normandy’s beach, moving in slow motion as many fell to the ground only to rise again to the strains of a lone bagpiper. On giant screens behind them, scenes from the war unfolded, from an execution to D-Day to footage of surrendering Germans. Soviet, British and U.S. soldiers were shown celebrating and unfurling their respective flags.

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Friday, June 6, 2014 12:51 pm.