Louis Deland facts for kids
Louis Joseph Marie Deland (born April 25, 1772 – died April 15, 1823) was a talented Swedish ballet dancer, singer, actor, and choreographer. He also served as a ballet master for the Royal Swedish Ballet. Many people consider him the first famous male dancer to come from Sweden in the Royal Swedish Ballet.
Life and Career
Louis Deland's father, Louise-Antoine Deland, was from Luxembourg. He worked as a hairdresser and footman for the Swedish queen, Sophia Magdalena of Denmark. Louis also had a brother, Jean Pierre Deland, who was a violinist.
Louis first performed on stage at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm when he was just ten years old. He danced in the ballet for the opera Orphée. The king, Gustav III of Sweden, was very impressed. He sent Louis to Paris, France, to study ballet with the famous teacher Gardel.
Career at the Royal Ballet
In 1792, Louis Deland returned to Sweden. He performed in Armide on January 9 and was hired as a main dancer at both the Royal Swedish Opera and the Royal Dramatic Theatre.
Soon, he was known as the best male dancer in Sweden. He also had a beautiful singing voice and was excellent in funny roles. People greatly admired his performances with other actors like Lars Hjortsberg and Carl Schylander. He was seen as a natural talent who truly became the character he played. People said he had a "childlike loveliness" that stayed with him his whole life.
Some of his famous roles included Niklas in Tanddoktorn (The Dentist) by Åhlström, Husca in Karavanen (The Caravane) by Gretry, and Pierrot in Den talande tavlan (The Speaking Painting) by Gretry.
In 1803, he became the ballet master of the Royal Swedish Ballet. In 1809, he was named the first dancing master. He held this important job until 1820, except for a short break between 1816 and 1818.
Louis Deland also created his own pantomime ballets, special dances, and other fun performances.
He retired when he was about forty years old because he developed a condition that caused him to lose his memory. Another dancer, Per Erik Sevelin, took over many of his duties.
Private Life
Louis Deland was married two times. His first wife was the actor Carolina Kuhlman. After they divorced, he married another actor named Maria Rebecka Rydberg. He was the father of Josefina Deland, who later became a well-known feminist. The Deland family became famous in the theatre world. Louis Deland's nephews, Pierre Deland and Fredrik Deland, were also famous actors. Pierre was even the director of the Deland troupe and Djurgårdsteatern. Pierre's daughter, Betty Deland, became an actress and a vice principal at Dramatens elevskola.
