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The New Youth Program of the Communist Party (September 21, 1963)

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Recently, there has been much discussion regarding certain dance forms, brought on, by the influence of Western non-culture [Unkultur], on the one hand, and by narrow-minded practices towards young people, on the other. The party’s stance on these issues is and always has been clear and precise. We view dance as a legitimate expression of joie de vivre and zest for life. Some people have difficulty understanding the difference between a dance party and a political gathering. At a political gathering, political issues are debated with reason and passion. There, it is mainly the head that is active. At a dance party, it is a bit different. There, one certainly brings one’s head along, but feelings and moods are expressed primarily through movement, rather than speeches.

No one intends to tell our youth that they can express their feelings and moods only to the rhythm of the waltz or tango. Whatever rhythm the young people choose is up to them; the main thing is that it remains rhythmic!

[ . . . ]



Source: “Kommuniqué des Politbüros des Zentralkomitees der SED zu Problemen der Jugend in der DDR” [“Communiqué of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) on the Problems of Youth in the German Democratic Republic”], Neues Deutschland, September 21, 1963.

Translation: Allison Brown

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