EARLY YEARS

" I am going to be in your next film" Leni Riefenstahl

Leni Riefenstahl was born August 22, 1902 in Berlin, Germany to parents Alfred and Bertha. Her birth name was Bertha Amalie Riefenstahl.

Having seen such works as Swan Lake prior to her 8th birthday, Leni was convinced that she should become a dancer. Her father in particular was much opposed to this. However, she would eventually secure lessons, her father's approval and huge artistic success in Europe.

Into the early 1920's Riefenstahl advanced her career with innumerable appearances on dance stages all over the continent. Her training included contact with the Kollmorgen Lyzeum and the academy of arts in Berlin. She received formal dance and ballet training. Some her instructors included the Russian ballerina Eduardowa, the expressionist dancer Mary Wigman and Jutta Klamt. Riefenstahl was intensely involved in her career as a dancer, specifically as an expressionist from 1923 through 1927, herself choreographing over 70 dance performances abroad the in and Germany

Her ability to continue with the hectic schedule in dance was certainly compromised by her pain and injuries suffered on stage, having broken bones in her feet in the past as well. Following a fateful knee injury the door into a new career suddenly opened to her in film.

In 1924 on her way to a medical appointment she noticed a film poster for a "mountain film" directed by Arnold Fanck, Mountains of Destiny. She sought the film out in a local cinema and was taken by the breathtaking beauty of the scenery and the artistic vision of Fanck.

Forgetting dance and instead pursuing a career as an actress, Leni Riefenstahl advanced herself to Fanck and her eventual costar, Luis Trenker.

What followed was an incredible career as a film actress and well known star of the German cinema.

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