Nazi Germany Dance Analysis

In two totalitarian societies, Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany, politics and the arts were prevalent. In both countries, a strict one-ruler government was formed in the 20th century. However, through these dictatorships, citizens in each country were able to connect to the history of dance. Dancing helped to entertain and also advanced political propaganda. While dance was famous in Russia under Lenin and Stalin, dance in Germany was not as revered as Russian ballet, especially during the time of Hitler’s rule. Although these two countries may not seem to own the same style of dance, both countries were able to benefit from dance politically. Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany demonstrate how dance was utilized in totalitarian societies, for political reasons and for the public’s enjoyment.
In Soviet Russia, beginning in the 1920s, “Soviet government policy shaped both the form of the ballet itself and its audience.” Ballet did not originate in Russia, it was born in France, nonetheless, “while ballet might claim its birth in the courts of France…it was Russia, and particularly St. …show more content…
The choreographer named Vasily Tikhomirov created this ballet piece in 1927. The Red Poppy ballet is about “a watery agitprop ballet that pitted “good” Chinese Communists against “bad” Chinese and Western imperialists…” Many working Russians attended these performances. Additionally, this piece appealed to the New Economic Policy men. Once the ballet was released to the public, multiple items were sold because of the fact that they branded or smelled like red poppy. Some critics after seeing the ballet were disgusted, one of these people being Vladimir Mayakovsky. Consequently, the ballet made a major impact, “…it was a big hit, and under pressure from trade unions, the press, the Party, and Komsomol,” the ballet was preformed until