The Origin and Development of Eurythmy 1918–1920

GA 277b — 18 October 1918, Zurich

3. A Cancelled Performance

The first public eurythmy performance in Zurich was scheduled for October 18, 1918. For this performance, which was officially canceled at short notice, while the lecture that had also been scheduled could take place, Rudolf Steiner drafted an announcement or poster text that exists in two variations and a fair copy by Marie Steiner. Ultimately, the first public eurythmy performance could not take place until February 24, 1919 in Zurich; see pp. 49-161. In the Zurich lecture of October 17, 1918, Rudolf Steiner briefly mentioned the cancellation of the event.

From the lecture Zurich, October 17, 1918

We ourselves have tried to develop efforts that are close to one area of spiritual science, to bring the gestural aspect of language back into view in what we call eurythmy, where we have tried to get the whole person moving and to express, through the movements of the limbs , through movements of the human form in space, through group movements, through the relationships between people, to express in a gestural way that which is otherwise also noticed in the gesture, but only not as a gesture, and which is expressed through the human larynx and its neighboring organs. We call this kind of movement art, which must penetrate humanity as something new, eurythmy. And we here in Zurich wanted to tie in with this lecture with a eurythmic presentation. It has to be postponed because we were given permission to give these lectures in the current difficult times, but not to give this eurythmic performance. It would have shown how the whole human being becomes the larynx, as it were. By becoming aware of what language is, we arrive at something that will become particularly important, quite fundamentally important for life in the present and the future.

From the address in Dornach, November 3, 1918

When we were in the very satisfactory position of being able to organize a public eurythmy performance in Zurich, we had to decide on introductory words for the philistines we were inviting – well, how should I put it, it's always on the tip of my tongue, something disrespectful – that could then be printed. And I also wanted to emphasize for this matter of eurythmy, which will certainly be extraordinarily important for the world at some point, that in what is now to be presented to the public, one has a beginning, an intention, which is to be developed, which is to undergo its development, which is to progress. Criticism of beginnings can only be properly addressed if we always remain aware that these are beginnings.

Announcement of the planned performance in Zurich, October 18, 1918

On October 18, 1918, a performance of the Eurythmic Art will take place at the Conservatory at 8 p.m.
It will be presented by Tatiana Kisseleff with the participation of Elisabeth Dollfuss, Annemarie Groh, Annemarie Donath and others. The poems on which the performance is based will be recited by Marie Steiner; the accompanying music is by Leopold van der Pals, Max Schuurman and Jan Stuten. The eurythmic art form is based on the intentions and indications of Rudolf Steiner. Seats: 5, 3 and 2 francs.