Joose, Kurt (1901 - 1979)

Another great German dancer was Kurt Joose. He was the first person to synthesize (combine) classical and modern dance, and to add some classical ballet technique.

Born in 1901, Wasseralfingen, Joose studied with the German choreographer - Rudolf Laban. After being taught to dance Joose helped to fund the 'Neue Tanzbühne' (New Dance Stage) in Münster in 1924. In 1927 he helped to fund the Folkway School in Essen and in 1928 he became ballet master of the Essen Opera House.

His most famous work, called 'The Green Table', won Joose and his dance team first prize at an international competition in Paris.

In 1933 Joose had to move to England to escape the Nazis who had recently come into power. After World War 11, in 1949, Joose returned to re-establish his school. He retired from his school in 1968 when he turned to supervise performances of his ballets. He died at 78 years old, in1979.

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