A piac szerepe a magyar és a német mozdulatművészet professzionalizációjában
The Role of the Market in the Professionalisation of Eurythmics in Hungary and Germany

Summary/Abstract: The trends that surfaced as an alternative to ballet in performative dance, and as new forms of physical exercise other than gymnastics and sports in Europe in the first half of the 20th century can be referred to collectively as eurythmics. Its first forms were created in mid-19th century France due to a desire for renewing theatre, and it started spreading in North America, primarily among upper middle-class women. The efforts and experiments of this social group brought about the first gymnastics system of the era that’s sole purpose was healthy physical activity, and which was designed with the characteristics of the female body in mind. The expressive movement practice called freeform dance and female gymnastics with the purpose of counteracting the harmful effects of modern life both appeared in Europe at the turn of the century, where they became intertwined with various art, education, and life reform movements, creating new trends within this category. Central Europe, particularly Germany, where ballet didn’t have strong traditional roots, became the centre of the gymnastics movement developing together with modern artistic dance. The institutionalisation of eurythmics, and its practitioners forming a professional community is an interesting example of how an emancipatory movement critical of modernisation and capitalism transforms into a market of modern services and finds its place in the hierarchy of careers and professions. The study compares German and Hungarian eurhythmics to find out what conflicts surrounded this integration, and how the market itself affected this process.

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