Dancing and acting careers thumb|Riefenstahl (right) in Wege zu Kraft und Schönheit (1925) Riefenstahl attended dancing academies and became well known for her self-styled interpretive dancing skills, traveling across Europe with Max Reinhardt in a show funded by Jewish producer Harry Sokal. Riefenstahl often made almost for each performance and was so dedicated to dancing that she gave filmmaking no thought. She began to suffer a series of foot injuries, which led to knee surgery that threatened her dancing career. It was while going to a doctor's appointment that she first saw a poster for the 1924 film Mountain of Destiny. She became inspired to go into movie making, and began visiting the cinema to see films and also attended film shows.
dancing and aCTINg careErS thumb|rIeFENsTahl (right) In WegE zu KrafT UnD ScHÖNhEIt (1925) RieFEnStahl atTEnded DaNcIng acADemieS And beCame well known for HEr self-sTyled inTeRprETiVe DAncing skILLs, traVELIng aCroSS eUrOpe with MAx reinHardT In a show fundeD bY jewIsh prodUCer haRrY SOKAl. RieFensTAHL often MaDE almOSt For eAch peRFORMAnce aNd WAs so dedicaTed to dancinG thAt she gavE filMmakinG NO tHOuGht. sHe began to sufFeR A sEries Of foOT INjuRIeS, WhicH Led tO knEe SuRgerY THat tHrEatEned hEr DANciNg CAReer. IT Was WHilE gOinG to a dOCtoR's appoIntmEnT thaT sHe FIrSt saw a PosteR For thE 1924 film mouNtain of deStIny. SHe BEcame inspired to go intO moViE MaKIng, and BEgan visItiNg the cIneMa to see filmS aNd alsO attended fiLm shows.