Royal Danish Ballet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Danish Ballet |
|
|---|---|
The Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, principal venue of the Royal Danish Ballet
|
|
| General information | |
| Name | Royal Danish Ballet |
| Local name | Den Kongelige Ballet |
| Year founded | 1748 |
| Principal venue | Royal Danish Theatre |
| Artistic staff | |
| Ballet Master | Nikolaj Hübbe |
| Other | |
| Orchestra | Royal Danish Orchestra |
| Official school | Royal Danish Ballet school |
The Royal Danish Ballet (in Danish: Den Kongelige Ballet) is a famous classical ballet company. It is based at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark. This company is one of the oldest ballet groups in the world. It started in 1748 when the Royal Danish Theatre was founded.
The ballet company was officially organized in 1771. This happened because French and Italian dance styles were very popular. The Royal Danish Ballet school also opened in 1771. It was first led by Pierre Laurent. Later, Vincenzo Galeotti helped it grow, and August Bournonville created his special way of teaching for the school.
Contents
History of the Royal Danish Ballet
From the very beginning, the Royal Danish Ballet hired top dancers and choreographers. Many of these came from France and Italy. Just a few years after it started, in 1771, the Royal Danish Ballet school was created. This school helped train dancers from Denmark, like Anine Frølich.
Vincenzo Galeotti's Influence
One of the first important leaders was Vincenzo Galeotti. Many people see him as the true founder of the company. He led the company from 1775 to 1816. Galeotti brought a new style of dance called ballet d'action. This style told a story through dance. He also helped prepare the way for romantic ballet.
Galeotti created a ballet called Amors og Balletmesterens Luner. This means The Whims of Cupid and the Ballet Master. It is still performed today with its original dances. This makes it the oldest ballet in the world that is still performed as it was first created!
August Bournonville's Legacy
Another very important leader of the ballet company was the Danish dancer August Bournonville. He led the company for almost 50 years, from 1828 to 1879. During this time, he created about 50 ballets. Around 12 of these are still performed by the company today.
Bournonville studied dance in France. So, his ballets were greatly influenced by the French style. His works often had important parts for male dancers. He likely created these roles with himself in mind. After he passed away, one of his followers, Hans Beck, used Bournonville's steps to create the Bournonville school. This school teaches dancers the traditional style of the old master.
Harald Lander and Modern Ballet
The Royal Danish Ballet had another great period starting in 1932. This was when Harald Lander took over as director. Lander had trained in the United States and the Soviet Union. He updated old ballets and also created new ones for the company.
Lander encouraged local choreographers to create new works. These works became famous around the world. One of these choreographers was Børge Ralov. In 1934, he created The Widow in the Mirror, which was the first modern Danish Ballet. Lander also trained many famous international dancers, including Erik Bruhn.
Recent Developments
In the later part of the 20th century, the Royal Danish Ballet changed again. Many famous choreographers from around the world, like George Balanchine, were invited to work with the company. Even though modern ballets became more important, the company still kept its traditional classical style. This has given it a reputation as one of the best dance companies in the world. It includes talented dancers from Denmark and other countries.
In 2007, Nikolaj Hübbe was named the artistic director. He was a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet before this role.
Artistic Directors of the Royal Danish Ballet
The Royal Danish Ballet has had many artistic directors over the years. These leaders guide the company and choose which ballets to perform. They also help shape the style and future of the company.
- 1775–1816 Vincenzo Galeotti
- 1830–1877 August Bournonville
- 1932–1951 Harald Lander
- 1978–1985 Henning Kronstam
- 2008– Nikolaj Hübbe
See also
In Spanish: Ballet Real Danés para niños
- List of productions of Swan Lake derived from its 1895 revival
Images for kids
-
Vincenzo Galeotti
-
August Bournonville in 1841.
