August Bournonville

August Bournonville is the founder of the Danish ballet tradition, the world's oldest living ballet heritage. At the age of 25 he became ballet master at the Royal Danish Ballet and continued to work here for 47 years.

With his characteristically gracious style and an impressive repertoire of grand ballets, Bournonville created the tradition that has brought international fame to the Royal Danish Ballet.

He was a contemporary of Hans Christian Andersen, and although he did not quite achieve the world wide popularity of the poet his ballets still are part of the Royal Danish Ballet repertoire. 

In celebration of Bournonville's bicentenary the theatre and other centres of culture have included Bournonville events in their 2005 programmes.

The Royal Ballet

3-11 June on the Old Stage, Kongens Nytorv
A number of August Bournonville ballets will be performed by the Royal Danish Ballet on the old stage. You can see 'La Ventana', 'The Kermesse i Brugge', 'Napoli', 'La Sylphide', 'Abdallah' and  'La Conservatoire'.

The Royal Danish Library

11 March - 22 October in the 'Black Diamond'.
Hans Christian Andersen, August Bournonville and I.P.E.Hartmann, the composer, on several occasions colaborated,  staging, choreographing and composing plays, ballets and operas.  Original scripts, sketches and other objects illustrate this colaboration. In June you will also be able to study original examples of the correspondance of these contemporaries.

Thorvaldsen's Museum

16 March - 13 June  'Everything Dances - Believe my Word'
A seperate exhibition on dancing in the 1800's. The Copenhageners were eager spectators, and dancing influenced artists, writers, painters and sculptors of the day.

The Theatre Museum

12 May  - 1 November  'Children, Legs and Bournonville'
In the days of Andersen and Bournonville the Royal Danish Ballet School had its training rooms at the small Court Theatre, which is today a theatre museum. This exhibtion tells the story.

The National Museum

14 May - 12 June - Tulle and Tights
Original Ballet costumes from the first Bournonville performances until today.

The Round Tower

14 May - 12 June - Photos
From the Royal Theatre, unique and seldomly seen old photographs and film documentaries showing Bournonville ballets.

Bournonville's House

28 May - 28 August in Fredensborg, north of Copenhagen
Villa Bournonville, where the ballet master lived most of his life is opened to the public, showing Bournonville, the private person, the artist, the personal friend, the spiritual character and the citizen. Letters, sketches, furniture and costumes in authentic surroundings.

The Royal Theatre, Stærekassen

30 May - 12 June   'Bournonville, The European'
This exhibtion focuses on the ballet master seen in a European context, showing his position in the period of the romantic ballet.

The Third Bournonville Festival