It touched my soul… - women in Berlin 1936 in quest of youth, beauty and physical and spiritual strength

Authors

• Anne Makkonen Teatterikorkeakoulu

Abstract

How Finnish women’s gymnastics and dance stood for and reinforced Finnish nationalism? To what extent they also were servants of National Socialism? These are questions which are still quite unexplored. In my article I discuss complicate relationships between form and ideology in gymnastics and dance. Particular attention is paid to the preparation and performance of Finnish women’s gymnastics team in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.