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". This is a virtual program.

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.

Tickets:

$6 Art Deco Society Members

$10 General Admission

If you purchase a ticket and cannot view the event live, we will send you a link to view it at your convenience.

Speaker 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.