Clärchens Ballhaus: Berlin's cult dancing hall
Clärchens Ballhaus is a legendary institution that's been through over 100 years of German history. Now the ballroom is closing for an undetermined period for restoration. A look back at the venue's history in pictures.
A matter of gentrification?
People loved to go for a twirl at the charming though slightly dilapidated Clärchens Ballhaus in Berlin — open one last time on the weekend of January 11-12. The building is scheduled for renovation, to be reopened sometime in 2020 by a new landlord. Longtime guests worry the former charm might disappear.
Dancing through the decades
Ever since opening more than 100 years ago, Clärchens Ballhaus has delighted danceaholics. During the Second World War, the dance hall experienced tough times, with Nazi leadership being against it. After the war, its location in the Soviet-controlled sector made it an East Berlin venue.
Opening in 1913
On September 13, 1913 Fritz Bühler and his wife Clara Habermann opened Bühlers Ballhaus, located at Auguststrasse 24 in Berlin. The building was perfectly suited to what they were hoping to create: two large dance halls on two floors in the rear part of the house, where music would not bother the neighbors.
Meet Clärchen
Clärchen (second from right, front row), a native Berliner, loved to dance. She was always on the dance floor, doing the Charleston and other popular dances. She also made sure the place was hopping every night of the week.
A change of name
Bühlers Ballhaus quickly became known as Clärchens Ballhaus, based on Clara's nickname. It turned into a popular institution among Berliners — even though the Nazi temporarily banned dance nights at the venue. At the end of World War II, the facade of the building was destroyed by an Allied bomb and the ballroom had to close.
East Berlin
Clärchens Ballhaus quickly reopened after the war. Even though it was located in communist East Berlin, it remained a private property. In the divided city, it remained a popular venue for all Berliners, from the East and the West. When she became too old to run the business, Clara transferred its ownership to her children.
New owners, same attitude
German Reunification in 1990 led to many changes in Berlin — and at Clärchens Ballhaus, too. Clara's daughter, owner of the building and the business, sold both in November 2003. The new management modernized the empty courtyard, inspired by the original outdoor restaurant and beer garden, as seen on this photo from 1911.
The historical hall of mirrors
In 2018, photographer Yoram Roth bought the venue. During its renovation in 2020, air conditioning is to be installed in the ballroom's hall of mirrors to allow it to be used all year long. Hopefully the cracks and holes in the walls and the floors will remain untouched, because those historical traces belong to the charm of Clärchens Ballhaus.