September | Ballettschule

Our number of the month: 90

90 years of life.

80 years of dance.

60 years of ballet school.

10 years on Germany’s major stages.

Sometimes numbers tell a whole life story.

On September 8th, my mother celebrates her 90th birthday.

When I read that number, I have to pause for a moment myself. For behind these nine decades lies far more than just a birthday. It is the story of an extraordinary life, a life full of dance, music, courage and tireless passion.

Born in Stettin, she and her family were forcibly removed during the second world war from their estate in Wussow, near Stettin, when she was eight years old. This was followed by three months on the run, until the family finally found a new home in Ober-Eschbach and a place to make a fresh start.

At the age of just ten, she began dancing ballet herself. A little girl’s enthusiasm grew into a lifelong vocation – a passion that never left her and which continues to inspire us all to this day.

For 80 years now, she has dedicated her life to the art of classical ballet.

She completed her training at the renowned Helken School in Frankfurt am Main. Her teacher, Hans Helken, was a dance partner of the legendary Anna Pavlova and later became director of the Städtische Bühnen Frankfurt. There she received training of the highest standard, characterised by discipline, musicality and the great tradition of classical stage dance.

This was followed by ten years on stages across Germany.

She danced at theatres in Würzburg, Regensburg and Munich. During her time at the Regensburg Theatre, she also completed her teacher training to become a stage manager and instructor in stage dance – training that would later benefit generations of pupils.

She also performed at the Bayreuth Festival, where she met numerous artists who have long since made theatre history.

She got to know figures such as Franz Josef Strauß, Klaus Kinski, Klaus Jürgen Wussow, Nadja Tiller, Walter Giller and Ivan Rebroff. She spoke of everyday life behind the scenes, of endless rehearsals, grand premieres and of encounters with the Prince of Thurn and Taxis at St Emmeram Palace in Regensburg.

Yet, as exciting as those years were, they were not to be the highlight of her life.

Her biggest step was still to come.

After ten successful years in the theatre, her path led her back to Ober-Eschbach. But she did not hang up her ballet shoes … quite the opposite.

At the request of Pastor Krause, she opened her own ballet school on 3 November 1966.

At that time, Ober-Eschbach was still an independent municipality in the district of Friedberg with its own mayor, Mr Albin Göhring.

Today, this decision seems obvious.

Back then, it was by no means so.

The 1960s were a time when women were often still expected to fulfil expectations very different from their professional dreams. Germany was still a long way from true equality. It was not until years later that marriage and family law underwent fundamental reform and women gained significantly greater legal autonomy.

And it was precisely during this period that a young, unmarried stage dancer founded her own ballet school.

With courage, hard work and a clear vision, she forged her own professional path. Not because it was easy. But because she firmly believed that children should experience the beauty of classical music and ballet.

Looking back, she was ahead of her time.

Without making a big fuss, she became a role model for many girls and young women. She showed that you are allowed to go your own way, that passion can become a career and that dreams can come true if you are prepared to work towards them with perseverance, discipline and courage.

What began back then with just a few children in the parish hall of the Church of the Gate of Heaven gradually developed into a well-established institution in Ober-Eschbach.

Following the first small performances, the first major show took place as early as 1970 at the Kurhaus in Bad Homburg.

In 1972, another dream finally came true.

The ballet school moved into its own premises at Langwiesenweg 15.

Since then, it has become an integral part of Ober-Eschbach and Bad Homburg.

Yet perhaps all these milestones are not its greatest legacy after all.

Not the theatres.

Not the grand stages.

Not the encounters with famous artists.

Its true life’s work is the people.

Since 1966, generations of children and young people have found their way to her ballet school.

Many walked through the door for the first time as shy four-year-olds. Some still clung to their mum’s hand at first, whilst others barely dared to take their first step.

A few years later, those same children were standing on stage with eyes aglow.

For over six decades, my mother has taught far more than just dance steps.

She has taught children to believe in themselves.

She has shown them that discipline, politeness, respect and hard work are not at odds with joy, but are the key to achieving their own goals.

She has taught them to cope with setbacks, to take responsibility, to stand up for one another and never to give up.

She has not only lifted up generations of children, but has also instilled in them a sense of poise – both physically and as people – in the truest sense of the word.

Many of her former pupils are now parents or even grandparents themselves.

And that is surely one of the finest gifts a teacher can receive.

Today, some of them bring their own children or grandchildren to the very same ballet school where they themselves once took their first steps on the dance floor.

Four generations of a family can sometimes be found at the same ballet barre.

Great-grandmother.

Grandmother.

Mother.

Daughter.

What a wonderful sign that values can be passed on.

For ballet lessons do not end with a performance.

What remains is often something far more valuable.

Walking through life with good posture, and the realisation that patience, diligence and practice turn small steps into great achievements.

A legacy is not created in a single day.

It grows quietly.

Lesson by lesson.