This is the story of three passionate choreographers and their colleagues who created European modern dance in the twentieth century despite the storms of war and oppression. It begins with Rudolf Laban, innovator and guiding force, and continues with the careers of his two most gifted and influential students, Mary Wigman and Kurt Jooss. Included are others who made significant contributions: Hanya Holm, Sigurd Leeder, Gret Palucca, Berthe Trumpy, Vera Skoronel, Yvonne Georgi and Harold Kreutzberg. The first book to weave together the connections among these extraordinary artists, The Makers of Modern Dance in Germany contains interviews, personal recollections and translations from German publications - all of which have never appeared before. Illustrated with archival photographs.

This, Part 1 of a two-part documentary, begins with Rudolf Laban (1879-1958), credited with being one of the most important innovators and guiding forces of modern dance. It continues with two of his most gifted and influential students, Mary Wigman, who became the foremost choreographer and exponent of German expressionist dance, and Kurt Jooss, who was Laban's assistant and lead dancer.. Jooss later established his own company Ballets Jooss, with great success until forced to leave Germany for political reasons in 1933. Part I concludes with preparations for the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. .

The Nazis burned books and banned much modern art. However, few people know the fascinating story of German modern dance, which was the great exception. Modern expressive dance found favor with the regime and especially with the infamous Dr. Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda. How modern artists collaborated with Nazism reveals an important aspect of modernism, uncovers the bizarre bureaucracy which controlled culture and tells the histories of great figures who became enthusiastic Nazis and lied about it later. The book offers three perspectives: the dancer Lilian Karina writes her very vivid personal story of dancing in interwar Germany; the dance historian Marion Kant gives a systematic account of the interaction of modern dance and the totalitarian state, and a documentary appendix provides a glimpse into the twisted reality created by Nazi racism, pedantic bureaucrats and artistic ambition.

Part 2 begins with the 1936 Olympics and the cancellation by Josef Goebbels of Laban's massive opening choreographic piece The Spring Wind and the New Joy and Laban's consequent downfall and escape from Germany. World War II finds Laban and Jooss in England while Wigman remains in Germany only to experience of the destruction of her school in air raid. The post war period focuses on Jooss's return to Germany and the Folkwang School; and Wigman's eventual move to West Germany and return to choreography. Jooss who has outlived the others has the last word. Documentary concludes in 1933 .