Hannah Kroner

In 1939, 19-year-old Hannah Kroner fled her hometown of Berlin with her parents, seeking refuge in New York. She left behind everything she had known. With each passing minute on the ship that carried them to safety from a darkening Europe, the family became increasingly aware of the uncertainty that awaited them in the New World. Her father felt anxious about the future, her mother looked ahead with confidence and hope for a life in freedom. Hannah later wrote: “I, of course, was very excited about our future, and being a trained dancer, saw myself already as another Eleanor Powell in the movies!” Her optimism would eventually be proven right—though no one could have known it at the time.

Hannah was born in Berlin in 1920, the only child of businessman Eugen Salomon Kroner and Elsa Levy. The family lived in the affluent western part of the city, where Hannah attended the Chamissoschule, a girls' grammar school. There she met her best friend, Susanne Wachsner, who moved in with the Kroners after losing her parents and was raised like a sister alongside Hannah. The two girls shared a love of creativity: Susanne found her passion in sewing, while Hannah expressed herself through dance.

In 1934, Hannah began professional training at the dance school of renowned instructors Max Terpis and Rolf Arco. Their emphasis was on a broad artistic foundation—ballet, modern, folk, expressive, and tap dance (in which Hannah particularly excelled). She also began teaching children and beginners. Her instructors praised her for her exceptional talent, discipline, and musicality.

In 1935, forced by the Nazis to abandon her formal education, she dedicated herself fully to dance. She became a member of the Jewish Cultural Association (Jüdischer Kulturbund) and performed as a dancer. The Jüdischer Kulturbund, founded in 1933, was a cultural organization for Jewish artists affected by Nazi professional bans. It was tolerated by the regime until 1941 and served both to control and isolate Jewish cultural life. Performances were only open to Jewish audiences and became the only cultural outlet allowed for Jews in Nazi Germany. In later testimony, Hannah described those years as far from carefree. The fear of persecution and deportation was ever-present. But dancing gave her a brief escape: “It was not a happy time off the stage, but it was constructive and also happy while on stage, for which I am very grateful.”

Still, Hannah and her parents were under no illusion. They prepared for emigration. In November 1939, they left Berlin for Rotterdam, where they boarded a ship bound for New York. Susanne was unable to secure her visa in time and had to stay behind. Hannah never forgot their parting. She and her parents stood on one side of the Dutch border fence, Susanne on the other. “Mama!”, she screamed before being dragged away by two Nazis. It was the last time Hannah saw her best friend. Susanne Wachsner was murdered in 1941 at the Kovno concentration camp.

In New York, Hannah met Marion “Mara” Leiser, another trained dancer who had fled Berlin. The two women formed the dance duo The Corley Sisters, touring the East Coast from 1940 to 1942. Their performances in theaters and vaudeville venues quickly gained them popularity—not just for their dance skills, but also for their humor and ever-changing costumes.

In 1942, Hannah married Gustav Segal, a fellow Berliner. They had two children, Evelyn and Jerry, and settled in Queens. There, Hannah began giving dance lessons in her living room. In 1947, she founded the Hannah Kroner School of Dancing, which she ran for over 60 years. She aimed to give her students the same broad foundation she had received: multiple dance styles, stage expression, choreography, costume design, makeup, and teaching. Her teaching philosophy went beyond dance: “We have tried to educate people to function in all phases of their life.” That, she said, was what made her most proud.

Throughout the ups and downs of her life, dance remained her constant companion, helping her maintain dignity and look ahead. For Hannah, dancing was a form of resilience: a way of life. Hannah Kroner passed away in New York at the age of 95. Her dance school, the Hannah Kroner School of Dancing, still exists today, continuing her legacy of creativity, discipline, and strength through movement.