In memory of Ulla Kasics

Born and raised in Bunzlau in present-day Poland in 1926, Ulla Kasics began dancing at a young age. After narrowly surviving the bombing of Dresden, she trained with the renowned expressive dancer Gret Palucca. Ulla Kasics first came to Zurich as part of the summer courses of the SBTG, the Swiss Professional Association for Dance and Gymnastics. In addition to the dance school she opened in 1954, she was committed to the professionalization of dance - a goal she consistently pursued during her 15 years as President of the SBTG.

Through tireless perseverance, passion and discipline, Ulla Kasics has made a name for herself in the Swiss dance world. The City of Zurich honored her in 1989 for her services to dance and, at the age of 95, she was entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest dance teacher in the world. Ulla Kasics passed away on July 3, 2023 at the age of 97.

In 2014, the SAPA Foundation conducted an oral history interview with Ulla Kasics. You can find excerpts from it in the portrait under Oral History.