Harald Alfred Bernhardt Stevnsborg Lander (25 February 1905 – 14 September 1971) was a Danish dancer, choreographer and artistic director of the

Royal Danish Ballet The Royal Danish Ballet is an internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Danish Theatre in Kongens Nytorv, Copenhagen, Denmark. It is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world and originates from 1748, when the Ro ...

. Lander was born in Copenhagen. He started as a dancer, studying under ballet master

Michel Fokine Michael Fokine, ''Mikhail Mikhaylovich Fokin'', group=lower-alpha ( – 22 August 1942) was a groundbreaking Imperial Russian choreographer and dancer. Career Early years Fokine was born in Saint Petersburg to a prosperous merchant and a ...

in 1926–27, and danced various principal roles until his retirement in 1945.Harald Lander
Encyclopædia Britannica During his tenure as artistic director and ballet master of the

from 1932 to 1951, he enriched the company's repertoire with productions of Fokine's iconic masterpieces and Bournonville revivals. Lander was married three times, first to

Margot Lander Margot Ella Florentz Lander (23 August 1910 – 18 July 1961), a prima ballerina with the Royal Danish Ballet, was the most important Danish ballerina of the first half of the twentieth century. Born in Oslo to Ella Florentz (1891-?), an opera sin ...

(1930–1950), then to

Toni Lander Toni Lander née Pihl Petersen (1931–1985) was a Danish ballerina who specialized in the ballets of August Bournonville. After becoming a solo dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet in 1950, she was a guest dancer with the Original Ballet Russe in ...

( −1965), and finally to Lise Lander. 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 Barre or Barré may refer to: * Barre (name) or Barré, a surname and given name Places United States * Barre, Massachusetts, a New England town ** Barre (CDP), Massachusetts, the central village in the town * Barre, New York, a town * Barre (c ...

and ends with spectacular bravura displays. Lander became ballet master of the

Paris Opera Ballet The Paris Opera Ballet () is a French ballet company that is an integral part of the Paris Opera. It is the oldest national ballet company, and many European and international ballet companies can trace their origins to it. It is still regarded ...

in 1953 and opened his own studio in Paris in 1964. He was decorated by the governments of

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

, and

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

for his contributions to ballet. Lander returned to Copenhagen shortly before his death in 1971.Harald Lander
. Ballet Theatre Foundation, Inc. abt.org

References

1905 births 1971 deaths Danish male ballet dancers Danish choreographers *Harald Lander Burials at Holmen Cemetery 20th-century ballet dancers {{Denmark-bio-stub

See also

References