Else Højgaard
Encyclopedia
Else Højgaard was a Danish
ballerina
and an actress of stage and screen. Noted for a fiery temperament and edgy intensity, Højgaard premiered as a solo ballerina for George Balanchine
in 1931 and was the primary dancer for Harald Lander
until 1942. Højgaard later went on to a long career as a dramatic actress, performing and teaching at the Royal Danish Theatre
. She performed in radio and television, and played supporting roles in several films including the dark drama Café Paradis
(1950). Højgaard was awarded a knighthood in the Order of the Dannebrog
in 1961 and promoted to Knight 1st Class
in 1971.
, Denmark
, the daughter of a civil attorney. At the age of 12, Højgaard became a student at the Royal Danish Theatre
ballet school in Copenhagen
and graduated in 1929. She debuted in the role of Amelie in the 1928 production of Drømmebilleder and was chosen to perform the solo of Terpsichore in George Balanchine
's 1931 staging of Apollon Musagete. Following that performance, Højgaard was a solo ballerina for the Royal Danish Ballet
until her retirement from ballet performance in 1942. She was the primary dancer for Harald Lander
's revival of the August Bournonville
ballets. Known for a fiery temperament, she was noted for her highly dramatic and lyrical performances, lending a modern, anti-romantic presentation to her roles.
. However, it wasn't until she left the ballet in 1942 that Højgaard dedicated herself to acting and demonstrated a dramatic stage presence that was "independent", "indestructible", and "almost defiant." Noted performances included the Karen Blixen-like character of Julia in T.S. Elliot's The Cocktail Party
and the emotional sister Irene in Søskende (1952). Højgaard performed in both radio and television, and she was an instructor for 16 years at the Royal Danish Theatre until 1967. In 1971, at the age of 65, Højgaard returned to ballet to perform the role of Old Woman in Dødens triumf (The Triumph of Death). In 1961, Højgaard was awarded knighthood in the Order of the Dannebrog
and in 1972, she was promoted to Knight of the First Degree.
During a career that spanned four decades, Højgaard performed supporting roles in several films. According to cinema historian Morten Piils, the edgy nervousness and intensity of Højgaard's appearance prevented her from being offered lead roles in films. However, her few roles were often memorable performances, such as that of the judgemental Agnes in the darkly dramatic Danish masterpiece Café Paradis
. Her final performance was in the 1972 children's film Mig og Charley. Højgaard died on 11 July 1979 at the age of 73 during a fire at her summer house on Bornholm.
.
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...
ballerina
Ballerina
A ballerina is a title used to describe a principal female professional ballet dancer in a large company; the male equivalent to this title is danseur or ballerino...
and an actress of stage and screen. Noted for a fiery temperament and edgy intensity, Højgaard premiered as a solo ballerina for George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
in 1931 and was the primary dancer for Harald Lander
Harald Lander
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...
until 1942. Højgaard later went on to a long career as a dramatic actress, performing and teaching at 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...
. She performed in radio and television, and played supporting roles in several films including the dark drama Café Paradis
Café Paradis
Café Paradis is an award-winning Danish film made in 1950, directed by Bodil Ipsen and Lau Lauritzen Jr., and written by Johannes Allen...
(1950). Højgaard was awarded a knighthood in the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
in 1961 and promoted to Knight 1st Class
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
in 1971.
Ballet career
Else Højgaard (née Andreasen) was born on 18 April 1906 on BornholmBornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
, 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...
, the daughter of a civil attorney. At the age of 12, Højgaard became a student at 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...
ballet school in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and graduated in 1929. She debuted in the role of Amelie in the 1928 production of Drømmebilleder and was chosen to perform the solo of Terpsichore in George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
's 1931 staging of Apollon Musagete. Following that performance, Højgaard was a solo ballerina for 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...
until her retirement from ballet performance in 1942. She was the primary dancer for Harald Lander
Harald Lander
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...
's revival of the August Bournonville
August Bournonville
August Bournonville was a Danish ballet master and choreographer. August was the son of Antoine Bournonville, a dancer and choreographer trained under the French choreographer, Jean Georges Noverre, and the nephew of Julie Alix de la Fay, née Bournonville, of the Royal Swedish Ballet.August was...
ballets. Known for a fiery temperament, she was noted for her highly dramatic and lyrical performances, lending a modern, anti-romantic presentation to her roles.
Acting career
While employed as a ballerina, Højgaard also attended the Royal Danish Theatre's drama school from 1932 to 1934 and made her stage debut in Anker Larsen's Son of Zeus (1935). She later performed as the dancer Arabella in the 1938 film musical ChampagnegaloppenChampagnegaloppen
Champagnegaloppen is a 1938 Danish musical film directed by George Schnéevoigt. The film based on a musical by Hans Christian Lumbye and play by Paul Holck-Hofmann and stars Svend Methling and Valdemar Møller. It is named after the famous light classical piece composed by Hans Christian Lumbye,...
. However, it wasn't until she left the ballet in 1942 that Højgaard dedicated herself to acting and demonstrated a dramatic stage presence that was "independent", "indestructible", and "almost defiant." Noted performances included the Karen Blixen-like character of Julia in T.S. Elliot's The Cocktail Party
The Cocktail Party
The Cocktail Party is a play by T. S. Eliot. Elements of the play are based on Alcestis, by the Ancient Greek playwright Euripides. The play was the most popular of Eliot's seven plays in his lifetime, although his 1935 play, Murder in the Cathedral, is better remembered today.The Cocktail Party...
and the emotional sister Irene in Søskende (1952). Højgaard performed in both radio and television, and she was an instructor for 16 years at the Royal Danish Theatre until 1967. In 1971, at the age of 65, Højgaard returned to ballet to perform the role of Old Woman in Dødens triumf (The Triumph of Death). In 1961, Højgaard was awarded knighthood in the Order of the Dannebrog
Order of the Dannebrog
The Order of the Dannebrog is an Order of Denmark, instituted in 1671 by Christian V. It resulted from a move in 1660 to break the absolutism of the nobility. The Order was only to comprise 50 noble Knights in one class plus the Master of the Order, i.e. the Danish monarch, and his sons...
and in 1972, she was promoted to Knight of the First Degree.
During a career that spanned four decades, Højgaard performed supporting roles in several films. According to cinema historian Morten Piils, the edgy nervousness and intensity of Højgaard's appearance prevented her from being offered lead roles in films. However, her few roles were often memorable performances, such as that of the judgemental Agnes in the darkly dramatic Danish masterpiece Café Paradis
Café Paradis
Café Paradis is an award-winning Danish film made in 1950, directed by Bodil Ipsen and Lau Lauritzen Jr., and written by Johannes Allen...
. Her final performance was in the 1972 children's film Mig og Charley. Højgaard died on 11 July 1979 at the age of 73 during a fire at her summer house on Bornholm.
Personal life
Højgaard married the businessman Anders Christian Emil Højgaard on 14 December 1926, however they divorced less than two years later. She was married a second time in 1936 with shoe manufacturer Willy Johanens Madsen. Later, she was married to the violinist and choir director Henrik Reinholdt Sachsenskjold, but that marriage also ended in divorce. Højgaard was the half-sister to Danish stage director Søren Melson and sister-in-law of Gull-Maj NorinGull-Maj Norin
Gull-Maj Norin, , was a Danish actress of stage and film who performed for acting companies in both Denmark and Sweden during the 1930s and 40's. She is best known for her leading role as the suspected serial murderer in the 1944 film noir thriller Melody of Murder.-Early life:Gull-Maj Norin was...
.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | Champagnegaloppen Champagnegaloppen Champagnegaloppen is a 1938 Danish musical film directed by George Schnéevoigt. The film based on a musical by Hans Christian Lumbye and play by Paul Holck-Hofmann and stars Svend Methling and Valdemar Møller. It is named after the famous light classical piece composed by Hans Christian Lumbye,... |
Arabella the Dancer | In her first screen role, Højgaard was typecast to play a dancer in a musical about the Danish composer H.C. Lumbye. |
| 1950 | Café Paradis Café Paradis Café Paradis is an award-winning Danish film made in 1950, directed by Bodil Ipsen and Lau Lauritzen Jr., and written by Johannes Allen... |
Agnes | In this dark film about alcoholism, Højgaard played the harshly judgemental sister. The film won the Bodil Award for Best Danish Film of 1950. |
| 1956 | Ung leg | Helle's Mother | Højgaard plays the mother of the lead actress (Ghita Norby in her debut), in a story that blames irresponsible parents for the wild, delinquency of teenagers. |
| 1964 | Tine | (The Voice) | |
| 1967 | The Red Mantle | Højgaard's performance was uncredited in this medieval drama. The film was nominated for the Palme D'Or Palme d'Or The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du... at Cannes. |
|
| 1967 | Resan | Woman in Copenhagen | |
| 1968 | A Sparrow Doing a Crane Dance | Queen Gunnhild | A television production of Jens Christian Hostrup's satire in which the ghost of Queen Gunnhild gives a magical ring to a scheming tailor and makes everyone blind to his actions. |
| 1970 | The Performance Will Be Followed by a Dance | Hertha | |
| 1975 | Nothing But the Truth | Mikkelsen | |
| 1978 | Did Somebody Laugh? | Ella | |
| 1978 | Charly and Me | Majbritt's Grandmother | This children's film received the Bodil Award for the Best Danish Film of 1978. |
External links
- Else Højgaard in the National Filmography at the Danish Film Institute (in Danish)