Krauss, Gertrud (1903–1977)
Krauss, Gertrud (1903–1977)
Austrian concert dancer. Born May 6, 1903, in Vienna, Austria; died Nov 23, 1977, in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Considered one of the founders of Israeli modern dance, trained 1st as pianist before studying dance at Vienna State Academy where she performed as staff accompanist for concert dancer Eleanore Tordis; began performing as solo concert dancer and creating works for other companies (1920), including The Last Days of Mankind (1932), Songs of the Ghetto, and The City Waits (1930–32); toured Palestine and immigrated there (1935); choreographed works for own group, Gertrud Krauss Dancers, in Israel; worked with Habima Theater on such productions as Sabbatai Zvi, Peer Gynt, and A Midsummer Night's Dream; taught classes in modern dance throughout Israel.