Dancing Like in the Habsburg Era

The Elmayer Dance School is undoubtedly one of the most renowned dance schools in all of Europe. In 2019, it celebrated its 100th anniversary. “The Elmayer” is more than just a dance school. Founded in the interwar period, Willy Elmayer succeeded in creating an institution that addressed the needs of society and left a lasting mark on Vienna’s ball tradition. Using archival footage and eyewitness accounts, the activities of the dance school are placed in a historical context. Still closely associated with the name Elmayer is the knowledge of good manners and etiquette. We explore how social etiquette has changed over the past 100 years.