Kirsten Ralov
Encyclopedia
Kirsten Ralov was a Danish ballerina.
She was born to Kai and Kaja Gnatt, née Olsen, a family of dancers living in Baden, Austria. Kirsten's mother encouraged her, and her brother Poul
, to train as dancers. She entered the school of the Royal Danish Ballet
at the age of 22, and was associated with that troupe throughout her career. Her theatrical debut was as a child in Konservatoriet in 1933. Her first solo performance as an adult was in 1941 in La Ventana
. Throughout her artistic career, she primarily performed on the stage of the Royal Theater
in Copenhagen
, where she was most notable for her ballet performances of the works of August Bournonville
. Her farewell performance was in 1962, where she danced the Ballerina Doll in Petrouchka by Michel Fokine
. Thereafter, she became the ballet mistress for the Royal Danish Ballet. From 1978 to 1988 she was the associate director.
Her four part work, The Bourbonville school (1979), includes daily classes teaching the Bournonville technique, along with the associated sheet music
. She was first married to Børge Ralov, then later to Fredbjorn Bjornsson; both Danish dancers. She had two sons.
She was born to Kai and Kaja Gnatt, née Olsen, a family of dancers living in Baden, Austria. Kirsten's mother encouraged her, and her brother Poul
Poul Gnatt
Poul Rudolph Gnatt was a Danish dancer and balletmaster active in New Zealand.- Childhood :Gnatt was born in Baden, Austria...
, to train as dancers. She entered the school 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...
at the age of 22, and was associated with that troupe throughout her career. Her theatrical debut was as a child in Konservatoriet in 1933. Her first solo performance as an adult was in 1941 in La Ventana
La Ventana
La Ventana is a coastal resort town located south of La Paz on the eastern side of the Baja California peninsula in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. The location is regarded as a premier venue for kitesurfing and windsurfing during the winter due to consistent strong winds from November...
. Throughout her artistic career, she primarily performed on the stage of the Royal Theater
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...
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...
, where she was most notable for her ballet performances of the works of 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...
. Her farewell performance was in 1962, where she danced the Ballerina Doll in Petrouchka by Michel Fokine
Michel Fokine
Michel Fokine was a groundbreaking Russian choreographer and dancer.-Biography:...
. Thereafter, she became the ballet mistress for the Royal Danish Ballet. From 1978 to 1988 she was the associate director.
Her four part work, The Bourbonville school (1979), includes daily classes teaching the Bournonville technique, along with the associated sheet music
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
. She was first married to Børge Ralov, then later to Fredbjorn Bjornsson; both Danish dancers. She had two sons.