August Bournonville

Bournonville - portaettegning August Bournonville was the great Danish choreographer and is internationally famous today for his sense of both the idyllic and the dramatic qualities of ballet.

Bournonville worked as solo dancer, balletmaster and choreographer at the Royal Theatre from 1830 to 1848. Et folkesagn (A Folk Tale), Napoli and Sylfiden (The Sylphide) are among his most important works. He created the last of these for his favourite pupil, Lucille Grahn, with whom he was unhappily in love, something that led to violent outbursts of jealousy and a public scandal.

Although Bournonville's relationship with his ballerinas was sometimes strained, he was able to renew Danish ballet, and his ardour and energy helped him to train an outstanding corps de ballet.



Basic facts Practical information City maps History Great Danes - past Hans Christian Andersen Bishop Absalon Karen Blixen Søren Kierkegaard Carl Nielsen Arne Jacobsen Niels Bohr Georg Jensen August Bournonville Great Danes - present Historic events The Little Mermaid Tourist > About Copenhagen > History > Great Danes - past > August Bournonville August Bournonville August Bournonville was the great Danish choreographer and is internationally famous today for his sense of both the idyllic and the dramatic qualities of ballet. Bournonville worked as solo dancer, balletmaster and choreographer at the Royal Theatre from 1830 to 1848. Et folkesagn (A Folk Tale), Napoli and Sylfiden (The Sylphide) are among his most important works. He created the last of these for his favourite pupil, Lucille Grahn, with whom he was unhappily in love, something that led to violent outbursts of jealousy and a public scandal. Although Bournonville's relationship with his ballerinas was sometimes strained, he was able to renew Danish ballet, and his ardour and energy helped him to train an outstanding corps de ballet.