[5] With her company, the Sara Mildred Strauss Dancers,[6] she gave a "novel and experimental" non-musical performance at New York's Guild Theatre in 1928.

She argued that her company's performances were not like theatre; "without the aid of music, pantomime, decor, costume or lighting", they were more like displays of visual art.

[8] In 1933 she held free public symposia on dance at her studio in Carnegie Hall, with invited speakers and informal themes.

[9] Strauss created and directed choreography for her company, who appeared in Broadway shows,[10] including the Ziegfeld Follies (1934), and Calling All Stars (1934),[11] and in the musical film Sweet Surrender (1935).

[12] She also developed "Living Movement Figure Dolls", bendable mannequins for use in store windows and dance instruction.