Hitler's Dancers

Lilian Karina, born in Russia, studied ballet in Berlin in the 1920s. She fled from Germany to Hungary and later Sweden, where she opened a ballet studio and still lives in Stockholm. Marion Kant was raised in East Berlin and began dancing at the Comic Opera at the age of 14. She took her PhD at Humboldt University in Musicology and Dance History and has taught at the Free University of Berlin, Kings College London, Cambridge University and the University of Surrey and is now at the University of Pennsylvania. Jonathan Steinberg is Walter H. Annenberg Professor of Modern European History, University of Pennsylvania.

• Translator's ForewordJonathan SteinbergPrefaceMarion KantPART I RECOLLECTIONSLilian KarinaIntroductionHow this work came aboutHave artists an interest in political and social circumstances?The Faces of my PastChapter 1. A Historical Overview of the Labanist PeriodPre Labanism: The Rise of the Culture of the Body (1900-1920)The Era of Labanism at its Peak: the Development of "New Dance," Modern and Stage Dance (1920s-1937)Opposition to Labanism – Realistic Dance TheaterChapter 2. Art and Culture under National SocialismThe New LegislationThe Doctrines of Race and InheritanceThe Invention of the Jewish Race: from Wagner to RosenbergChapter 3. Sectarianism and DanceThe Historical Path of Racial HygieneSects, Cults and Secret SocietiesThe New Magicians of Dance: Steiner, Klamt, Duncan, LabanThe Search for a Dance "True to Type" ["arteigen"]Chapter 4. The Fates of EmigrantsEvgenia Eduardova and Josef LewitanVictor GsovskyKurt JoossSascha LeontieffAurél von MillossLia SchubertChapter 5. The Situation in ScandinaviaThe Association of Swedish Dance PedagoguesGertrude EngelhardtElsa LindenbergEdgar FrankLilian KarinaChapter 6. Laban's Downfall and Post-LabansimPost-LabanismPART II: "DANCE IS A RACE QUESTION." THE DANCE POLITICS OF THE REICH MINISTRY OF POPULAR ENLIGHTENMENT AND PROPAGANDAMarion KantIntroductionThe State of Dance ResearchDance in Germany in 1930Chapter 7. The Reich Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and PropagandaThe Foundation of the Reich Chamber of CultureRivalries about Culture and ArtThe Propaganda Ministry and the Reich Theater ChamberChapter 8. The Nazi Redirection of DanceThe Plan for a Nazi Dance PolicyChapter 9. Ministerial Dance Politicos – Rudolf von Laban and Otto von KeudellThe Dance Festivals of 1934 and 1935Chapter 10. The German Dance Theater and The German Master WorkshopsRegulations for the Conduct of the Dance ExaminationsThe Olympic GamesThe Temporary FinaleChapter 11. The Next StageThe Laban CaseThe Wigman CaseChapter 12. After Laban's FallFrom German Dance to German BalletA Ban on DanceTotal DancePost ScriptPART III: THE NAZI ATTEMPT TO SUPPRESS JAZZ AND SWING: A CASE STUDYMarion KantPART IV: DANCE UNDER THE NAZIS: DOCUMENTARY APPENDIXSelected and Edited by Marion KantAppendix: The Administrative Structure of the Reich Ministry of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda and the Reich Culture ChambersChronologyReferencesAbbreviations and GlossarySourcesArchives and CollectionsBibliographyIndexName entriesSubject entries

"An important contribution to the discussion [on Nazism and dance] - obligatory reading on the history of dance - that makes parts of this book as gripping as a thriller." Der Tanz der Dinge "Highly recommended... The most important publication on dance in the Third Reich." Tanzwissenschaft