The Weimar Era in Germany, from the end of World War One in
1918 to the Nazi takeover in 1933, was a time of social and political ferment,
a time of conflict and rapid change, with people rejecting the old conventions
and constraints and embracing modernity in art, film, sex and dance. Dance historian Walter Nelson will look at
this era through the lens of social dancing, as depicted in the films and art
of the time - and dispel some widespread misconceptions reflected in programs
like "Babylon Berlin".
Social dancing, usually the Foxtrot, Tango and Waltz, with a
bit of Paso Doble and Charleston, was pervasive in Weimar Berlin: people danced
everywhere from posh nightclubs, to outdoor tea dances to private parties, to
gay bars to brothels - everyone was dancing, and through the vehicle of
contemporary films, some of them quite shocking to traditional sensibilities,
Walter will show you how they were dancing.
Admission:
$6 - ADSLA Members
$10 - General Admission
Presenter Bio:
Since 1988 Walter Nelson has been an organizer of historical
themed dance events ranging from the English Regency to World War II, a
presenter on a wide variety of historical topics, and with his wife Sheila a
historical performer and event organizer for museums, historical societies, and
non-profits – and back when they were more or less about history, he made
occasional appearances on the History Channel.
He has researched and taught historical dance
for over a decade, ranging from the early 1800s to the 1940s, with his current
emphasis being the social dances of the first half of the 20th Century, as
depicted in the films of the era. He has given classes and lectures locally in
Southern California, as well as the San Francisco Bay Area, Washington DC and
Paris France - and lately via Zoom. He has been doing various forms of
historical dance since 1978. He has a BA in history from the University of
California at Berkeley and was an Army Intelligence Officer.