Harald Lander
Encyclopedia
Harald Lander is a Danish dancer, choreographer and artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet
.
Lander started as a dancer, studying under ballet master Michel Fokine
in 1926-27. He danced various principal roles until his retirement in 1945.
During his tenure as artistic director and ballet master of the Royal Danish Ballet
from 1932 to 1951, he enriched the company's repertoire with productions of Fokine's iconic masterpieces and Bournonville revivals.
His most famous choreographic work, "Études
", which later brought him international fame, is considered an homage to classical ballet training. "Études
" is a one-act ballet that begins with traditional ballet exercises at a barre
and ends with spectacular bravura displays.
He became ballet master of the Paris Opera Ballet
in 1953 and opened his own studio in Paris in 1964. He was decorated by the governments of Denmark
, Belgium
, and France
for his contributions to ballet. Lander returned to Copenhagen shortly before his death in 1971.
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...
.
Lander started as a dancer, studying under ballet master Michel Fokine
Michel Fokine
Michel Fokine was a groundbreaking Russian choreographer and dancer.-Biography:...
in 1926-27. He danced various principal roles until his retirement in 1945.
During his tenure as artistic director and ballet master of the Royal Danish Ballet
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...
from 1932 to 1951, he enriched the company's repertoire with productions of Fokine's iconic masterpieces and Bournonville revivals.
His most famous choreographic work, "Études
Études (ballet)
Études is a ballet by Danish dancer and choreographer Harald Lander with original score by Carl Czerny and piano studies arranged by Knudåge Riisager. It is considered Lander's most famous choreographic work and brought him international fame....
", which later brought him international fame, is considered an homage to classical ballet training. "Études
Études (ballet)
Études is a ballet by Danish dancer and choreographer Harald Lander with original score by Carl Czerny and piano studies arranged by Knudåge Riisager. It is considered Lander's most famous choreographic work and brought him international fame....
" is a one-act ballet that begins with traditional ballet exercises at a barre
Barre
-People:* Abdulrahman Jama Barre, Somali Foreign Minister* Barre Phillips , jazz and free improvisation bassist* Erika Michelle Barré , Canadian model* Isaac Barré , British soldier and politician...
and ends with spectacular bravura displays.
He became ballet master of the Paris Opera Ballet
Paris Opera Ballet
The Paris Opera Ballet is the oldest national ballet company in the world, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it...
in 1953 and opened his own studio in Paris in 1964. He was decorated by the governments of Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for his contributions to ballet. Lander returned to Copenhagen shortly before his death in 1971.