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Valeska GertGerman cabaret and music hall character dancer, film actress, model
Date of Birth: 11.01.1892
Country:  Germany |
Content:
- Valeska Gert: Iconic Cabaret Dancer, Actress, and Model
- Artistic Collaborations and Emigration
- Return to Europe and Film Career
- Legacy and Documentary
Valeska Gert: Iconic Cabaret Dancer, Actress, and Model
Early Life and CareerValeska Gert was born to a merchant in Berlin. She taught herself dance and rose to prominence through solo performances depicting the marginalized and downtrodden. Her expressive style, reminiscent of German Expressionism, drew comparisons to Georg Grosz's art. She gained immense popularity, rivaling the renowned Mary Wigman.
Artistic Collaborations and Emigration
In 1928, Gert toured the Soviet Union, where she met Sergei Eisenstein. Their encounters inspired both an article by Eisenstein and a memoir entry by Gert. She also modeled for artists Jeanne Mammen and Charlotte Berend-Corinth in the late 1920s.
With the rise of Nazism, Gert emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1933 and to the United States in 1938. In 1941, she opened the Beggar Bar in New York City, which became a popular cabaret venue frequented by Tennessee Williams during his early writing years.
Return to Europe and Film Career
In 1945, Gert returned to Europe and resumed her acting career in films. She had made her cinematic debut in Georg Wilhelm Pabst's "Joyless Street" (1925) and went on to portray memorable characters in films by Jean Renoir, Henrik Galeen, Robert Siodmak, Federico Fellini, and Volker Schlöndorff.
Legacy and Documentary
Valeska Gert's distinctive performances left an enduring impact on the entertainment industry. In 1976, Schlöndorff directed a documentary film, "Only for Fun, Only for Play," about her intriguing life. Gert's memoirs and collaborations with prominent artists continue to be celebrated, showcasing her remarkable contributions to dance, theater, and film.
