Frank Andersen
Encyclopedia
Frank Andersen is a former Danish
ballet dancer who was twice artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet
. He has been an influential supporter of the Danish choreographer August Bournonville
.
, Stanley Williams
and Nora Kiss. He first danced with the company in 1971 and became a solo dancer in 1977. In 1976, supported by Dinna Bjørn, he was the originator of the Bournonville Group which danced around the world presenting Bournonville's ballets. His first term as artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet was from 1895–1994. From 1995–1999, he was the artisitc director of the Royal Swedish Ballet
and from 2002–2008 he was again artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet. He has directed several productions of August Bournonville's ballets. Since 1997, he has been an advisor to the National Ballet of China
, visiting the People’s Republic on many occasions. His dancing has been qualified as conveying love of life, humour and charm in roles such as Geert in The Kermesse in Bruges
, Gurn in La Sylphide, Frants in Coppélia
, and Puck in John Neumeier
's A Midsummer Night's Dream (1980).
In 2010, Andersen, together with his wife Eva Kloborg, also a ballet dancer and choreographer, instructed a group of Vietmanese dancers from the Vietnam National Opera & Ballet in Bournonville's ballet. This culminated in major presentations at the Hanoi Opera House
on 29 and 30 May 2010 with performances of Conservatory
(1849) and Flower Festival in Genzano (1858).
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...
ballet dancer who was twice artistic director 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...
. He has been an influential supporter of the Danish choreographer 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...
.
Biography
Andersen was trained at the Royal Danish Ballet from the age of seven. He also studied under Vera VolkovaVera Volkova
Vera Volkova was an influential Russian ballet dancer and dance teacher. Born in Tomsk, she trained in Petrograd at Akim Volynsky's School of Russian Ballet, also studying with the renowned Russian ballet mistress Agrippina Vaganova. She danced professionally with the Imperial Russian Ballet,...
, Stanley Williams
Stanley Williams (ballet)
Stanley Williams was a dancer and, later, a renowned ballet instructor.-Early days:Stanley Williams was born in England but grew up in Copenhagen, and Stanley was enrolled at the Royal Danish School of Ballet...
and Nora Kiss. He first danced with the company in 1971 and became a solo dancer in 1977. In 1976, supported by Dinna Bjørn, he was the originator of the Bournonville Group which danced around the world presenting Bournonville's ballets. His first term as artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet was from 1895–1994. From 1995–1999, he was the artisitc director of the Royal Swedish Ballet
Royal Swedish Ballet
The Royal Swedish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in Europe. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, King Gustav III founded the ballet in 1773 as a part of his national cultural project in response to the French and Italian dominance in this field; he also founded the Royal Swedish Opera and the...
and from 2002–2008 he was again artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet. He has directed several productions of August Bournonville's ballets. Since 1997, he has been an advisor to the National Ballet of China
National Ballet of China
The National Ballet of China , known in China as the Central Ballet Troupe was founded on 31 December 1959. It is the mainland Chinese national ballet troupe...
, visiting the People’s Republic on many occasions. His dancing has been qualified as conveying love of life, humour and charm in roles such as Geert in The Kermesse in Bruges
The Kermesse in Bruges
The Kermesse in Bruges, or The Three Gifts is a burlesque ballet in three acts created in 1851 by the Danish balletmaster and choreographer August Bournonville for the Royal Danish Ballet. The ballet tells the story of three brothers who receive magic gifts from an alchemist. The music is by Holger...
, Gurn in La Sylphide, Frants in Coppélia
Coppélia
Coppélia is a sentimental comic ballet with original choreography by Arthur Saint-Léon to a ballet libretto by Saint-Léon and Charles Nuitter and music by Léo Delibes. It was based upon two macabre stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, Der Sandmann , and Die Puppe...
, and Puck in John Neumeier
John Neumeier
John Neumeier is a well-known American ballet dancer, choreographer, and director. He has been the director and chief choreographer of the Hamburg Ballet since 1973. 5 years later he founded the Hamburg Ballet School, which also includes a boarding school...
's A Midsummer Night's Dream (1980).
In 2010, Andersen, together with his wife Eva Kloborg, also a ballet dancer and choreographer, instructed a group of Vietmanese dancers from the Vietnam National Opera & Ballet in Bournonville's ballet. This culminated in major presentations at the Hanoi Opera House
Hanoi Opera House
The Hanoi Opera House is an opera house in central Hanoi, Vietnam. It was erected by the French colonial administration between 1901 and 1911. It was modeled on the Palais Garnier, the older of Paris's two opera houses, and is considered to be one of the architectural landmarks of Hanoi.The Hanoi...
on 29 and 30 May 2010 with performances of Conservatory
Le Conservatoire
Le Conservatoire, or A Marriage by Advertisement is a two-act vaudeville ballet created by the Danish choreographer and ballet master August Bournonville in 1849 for the Royal Danish Ballet. The ballet's setting is a dance studio at the Conservatoire de Paris...
(1849) and Flower Festival in Genzano (1858).
Bournonville productions
- NapoliNapoli (ballet)Napoli, or The Fisherman and His Bride is a ballet created in 1842 for Denmark's Royal Ballet by Danish choreographer and ballet master August Bournonville. The ballet tells the story of Teresina, a young Italian girl who falls in love with Gennaro, a fisherman. The tale culminates in the marriage...
, Monte Carlo BalletLes Ballets de Monte CarloLes Ballets de Monte Carlo is a classical ballet company established in 1985 by Her Royal Highness the Princess of Hanover in accordance with the wishes of her mother, Princess Grace of Monaco...
(1988) - A Folk Tale, Royal Danish Ballet (1991)
- La SylphideLa SylphideLa Sylphide is one of the world's oldest surviving romantic ballets. There were two versions of the ballet; the version choreographed by the Danish balletmaster August Bournonville is the only version known to have survived....
, National Ballet of ChinaNational Ballet of ChinaThe National Ballet of China , known in China as the Central Ballet Troupe was founded on 31 December 1959. It is the mainland Chinese national ballet troupe...
and Royal Swedish BalletRoyal Swedish BalletThe Royal Swedish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in Europe. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, King Gustav III founded the ballet in 1773 as a part of his national cultural project in response to the French and Italian dominance in this field; he also founded the Royal Swedish Opera and the...
(1999)
Honours
- Knight of the Order of the DannebrogOrder of the DannebrogThe 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...
, first grade - Prize of Honor, Berlingske Foundation (2000)
- The Dance Magazine Award (2002)
- Margot Lander's Grant of Honor (2003)