The Chilean National Ballet, founded in 1945, is Chile's oldest professional contemporary dance company.
Germany's Kurt Jooss Ballet company toured South America in 1941, including Santiago, Chile.
Ernst Uthoff left the Kurt Jooss Ballet to remain in Santiago, establishing a School of Dance at the university.
Uthoff was the dance school's director, choreographer, and first master teacher.
Along with Uthoff, Lola Botka and Rudolf Pescht left the Jooss company to join the School of Dance as master teachers.