Kongelige Danske ballet

The Royal Danish Ballet evolved from Danish theater and traces its roots to the 1748 opening of Denmark's Royal Theatre in Copenhagen.

The ballet company experienced its greatest success and growth under the direction of three noteworthy masters, Vicenzo Galeotti (1775-1816), Auguste Bournonville (1830-1877), and Harald Lander (1932-1951). Galeotti increased the number of dancers in the company, introduced Denmark to an international repertory, developed native dancers and composers, and staged popular ballets. Bournonville's reign is often called the "Golden Age." He was the principle male dancer until 1848 and built a rich and diverse repertory. A century later, Harald Lander revived and modernized the faltering company. During the 1930s and 1940s he nurtured and showcased talented dancers such as Margot Lander and Børge Ralov and brought in internationally acclaimed choreographers such as the Russian Alexandre Volinine. Giselle, staged by Volinine in 1946, was one of the Royal Danish Ballet's most successful runs of the decade. The ballet featured lead dancers Margot Lander and Børge Ralov. Lander danced the title role and her performance earned her the Teaterpokalen great performance trophy awarded by the dance critics of Copenhagen.

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