Anine Frölich
Encyclopedia
Anine Marie Magdalene Frölich, (13 March 1762 - 6 November 1784) was a Danish ballerina, one of the first professional native ballet dancers in Denmark and a prima donna within the Danish ballet in her days. Chronologically, she can be seen as the first Danish ballerina, and the first native star within the Royal Danish Ballet
.
Frölich was born in Copenhagen, and was accepted as a student in the ballet school of the Court-Theater in 1771. The Court-Theater had been founded in 1767 at the Christiansborg Palace
by Pierre Laurent, formerly of the French theatre troupe; it was to be merged with the Royal Danish Theatre
in 1772.
Frölich debuted in 1773 and became an instant success on account of her astonishing beauty, technical accomplishment and dramatic technique, which separated her from the more formal and stiff mannerisms adopted by most of contemporaries.
From 1775, Frölich came under the influence of the Italian dancer Vincenzo Galleotti. Having been made ballet-master of the Court Theater, he completely reformed the Danish ballet and stimulated a new enthusiasm for the art among the public. Until then, Danish ballet had been abstract and undramatic, formal and stilted. The idea of ballet as a dramatic art was introduced into Denmark by Galeotti, who made Frölich the star vehicle of his innovative choreography. With her expressive manner of dancing she complemented perfectly the new style of ballet under his direction. Under his leadership she became the ruling ballerina of the Danish ballet. One of her most famous roles was in the ballet Den forlodte Dido in 1777.
She and Galeotti also became lovers, but the relationship ended unhappily. Exhausted by the intense physical demands of her art, Frohlich's health deteriorated quickly. In 1784, she collapsed during a performance and was carried home, but died shortly afterwards in Copenhagen.
Royal Danish Ballet
The Royal Danish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, it originates from 1748, when the Royal Danish Theatre was founded, and was finally organized in 1771 in response to the great popularity of French and Italian styles of dance...
.
Biography
Anine Frölich was perhaps the principal figure in the emergence of classical ballet as a distinct art-form in Denmark.Frölich was born in Copenhagen, and was accepted as a student in the ballet school of the Court-Theater in 1771. The Court-Theater had been founded in 1767 at the Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace, , on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, is the seat of the Folketing , the Danish Prime Minister's Office and the Danish Supreme Court...
by Pierre Laurent, formerly of the French theatre troupe; it was to be merged with the Royal Danish Theatre
Royal Danish Theatre
The Royal Danish Theatre is both the national Danish performing arts institution and a name used to refer to its old purpose-built venue from 1874 located on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. The theatre was founded in 1748, first serving as the theatre of the king, and then as the theatre of the...
in 1772.
Frölich debuted in 1773 and became an instant success on account of her astonishing beauty, technical accomplishment and dramatic technique, which separated her from the more formal and stiff mannerisms adopted by most of contemporaries.
From 1775, Frölich came under the influence of the Italian dancer Vincenzo Galleotti. Having been made ballet-master of the Court Theater, he completely reformed the Danish ballet and stimulated a new enthusiasm for the art among the public. Until then, Danish ballet had been abstract and undramatic, formal and stilted. The idea of ballet as a dramatic art was introduced into Denmark by Galeotti, who made Frölich the star vehicle of his innovative choreography. With her expressive manner of dancing she complemented perfectly the new style of ballet under his direction. Under his leadership she became the ruling ballerina of the Danish ballet. One of her most famous roles was in the ballet Den forlodte Dido in 1777.
She and Galeotti also became lovers, but the relationship ended unhappily. Exhausted by the intense physical demands of her art, Frohlich's health deteriorated quickly. In 1784, she collapsed during a performance and was carried home, but died shortly afterwards in Copenhagen.