Historien

Dancing across Europe: Danish prima ballerina Lucile Grahn

colour illustration of Lucile Grahn in a ballet costume.

The first Danish ballerina to become internationally famous and pursue a ballet career

ved
Adrian Murphy (åbner i nyt vindue) (Europeana Foundation)

Lucile Grahn, the first Danish ballerina to become internationally famous and pursue a ballet career, danced on some of the most prestigious stages across Europe.

colour illustration, profile portrait of Lucile Grahn.

Who was Lucile Grahn?

Born in Copenhagen in 1819, Lucina Alexia Grahn was a ballerina, ballet mistress, and choreographer.

She trained at the Royal Danish Theatre School in Copenhagen, where her principal teacher was the ballet master August Bournonville. She made her official debut in 1834.

colour illustration of a theatre building.
black and white illustration, a portrait of a man in a circle in the centre, surrounded by images of dancers and theatre scenes.

The following year, she created the leading role in Valdemar. Together with Bournonville, she travelled to Paris in 1834 to see Marie Taglioni in La Sylphide.

Upon their return to Denmark, they produced their own version.

black and white illustration of dancers on a large stage.

Following successful productions and collaboration between Bournonville and Grahn, Soon differences appeared in the relationship between Bournonville and Grahn, as she wanted to dance at the famed Paris Opéra Ballet.

In 1839, Grahn eventually ended her position at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen and moved to Paris.

black and white photograph, exterior of the Opera in Paris with horses and carriages outside.
black and white image, the interior of the Paris Opera House.

How did Lucile Grahn become a celebrated ballet dancer?

Within a few years, Grahn had performed multiple roles in the grand opera houses throughout Europe - in Paris, St Petersburg, Milan, Berlin and London.

black and white illustration, the interior of Drury Lane Theatre.

Grahn became a famed, well-known dancer in her own right, touring throughout Europe. She frequently produced the ballets in which she appeared.

colour illustration of Lucile Grahn, wearing a costume from a ballet production.
black and white illustration of Lucile Grahn, she is dancing with her right arm raised.
black and white photograph, Lucile Grahn in a ballet performance.

Within twenty years, Grahn had retired from the stage. In 1856, she married the Austrian tenor Friedrich Young.

From 1858 to 1861 she worked as ballet mistress in Leipzig, Germany. Later, from 1869 to 1875, she led the ballet school at the Court Opera in Munich.

black and white illustration, four dancers dancing, one is standing with arms raised while the others kneel around her.

Grahn died in 1907, aged 87, and is now remembered as one of the most popular ballerinas of the 19th century.

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