Sorella Englund
Encyclopedia
Sorella Englund is a former soloist and character dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet
. She has been a keen supporter of August Bournonville
, staging a number of his ballets in Denmark
and abroad.
, joining the company in 1964. She moved to Denmark in 1966 when Flemming Flindt
engaged her to dance in the Royal Danish Ballet where she studied Bournonville
choreography under Hans Brenaa. Her breakthrough came in 1969 when she took the part of Hilda in Bournonville's A Folk Tale. Erik Aschengreen, writing in Berlinske Tidende commented: "She stood on the stage like a ray of light. Wonderfully poetic. At one and the same time both innocent and dangerously threatening."
She became a soloist in 1970 (a first for a foreigner) and, as a result of illness, a character dancer in 1993 before retiring as a dancer in 1994. She was ballet master with the Boston Ballet
from 1996 to 1999. Her principal Bournonville roles have included Madge in La Sylphide
, Teresina in Napoli
and Hilda in A Folk Tale. She has also danced in modern works including Paul Taylor's Aureole (1968) and Antony Tudor
's Jardin aux Lilas. She has also participated in Eske Holm's ballets and happenings dancing Electra in his Orestes (1972) and taking the title role in his The Firebird (1975). With her exceptional radiance, Englund has been a challenge for contemporary choreographers. Roles have been created for her by Constantin Patsalas in Das Lied von der Erde (1988), Kenneth Kreutzmann in Lullaby (1996) and Tim Rushton
in Carmina Burana
(1997).
She produced Abdallah together with Flemming Ryberg and Bruce Marks
for the Royal Danish Ballet (1986) and (as Arabian Nights) for the National Ballet of Canada
(1988). In 1990, with Else Marianne von Rosen she staged Thrymskvinden at the Royal Danish Ballet. She produced La Sylphide for the Scottish Ballet
(1996) and for the Tokyo National Ballet (2000). In 2009, together with Nikolaj Hübbe
, she produced a new version of Napoli, now set in the Italy of the 1950s. The ballet was successfully received when performed in New York in 2011.
Sorella Englund is currently an instructor with the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen.
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...
. She has been a keen supporter 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...
, staging a number of his ballets in 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...
and abroad.
Biography
The daughter of composer Einar Englund (1916–1999) and pianist Meri Gyllenbögel (1917-1956), Sorella Englund was born on 23 December 1945 in Helsinki, Finland. Already as an eight-year-old, she began training with the ballet school of the Finnish National Opera. She then studied with the Finnish National BalletFinnish National Ballet
Finnish National Ballet is a professional ballet company at the Finnish National Opera, in Helsinki, Finland. The company was founded in 1922 and it currently employs 73 dancers. It is the only Finnish company that regularly performs a classical ballet repertoire...
, joining the company in 1964. She moved to Denmark in 1966 when Flemming Flindt
Flemming Flindt
Flemming Flindt was a Danish choreographer born in Copenhagen. He studied at the Royal Danish Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet schools, joined the Royal Danish Ballet and was promoted to soloist in 1955...
engaged her to dance in the Royal Danish Ballet where she studied 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...
choreography under Hans Brenaa. Her breakthrough came in 1969 when she took the part of Hilda in Bournonville's A Folk Tale. Erik Aschengreen, writing in Berlinske Tidende commented: "She stood on the stage like a ray of light. Wonderfully poetic. At one and the same time both innocent and dangerously threatening."
She became a soloist in 1970 (a first for a foreigner) and, as a result of illness, a character dancer in 1993 before retiring as a dancer in 1994. She was ballet master with the Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet
Boston Ballet, founded in 1963 by E. Virginia Williams, was the first professional repertory ballet company in New England. Boston Ballet’s national and international reputation developed under the leadership of Artistic Directors Violette Verdy , Bruce Marks , and Anna-Marie Holmes...
from 1996 to 1999. Her principal Bournonville roles have included Madge in La Sylphide
La Sylphide
La 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....
, Teresina in Napoli
Napoli (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...
and Hilda in A Folk Tale. She has also danced in modern works including Paul Taylor's Aureole (1968) and Antony Tudor
Antony Tudor
Antony Tudor was an English ballet choreographer, teacher and dancer.-Biography:Tudor, born William Cook, discovered dance accidentally. He began dancing professionally with Marie Rambert in 1928, becoming general assistant for her Ballet Club the next year...
's Jardin aux Lilas. She has also participated in Eske Holm's ballets and happenings dancing Electra in his Orestes (1972) and taking the title role in his The Firebird (1975). With her exceptional radiance, Englund has been a challenge for contemporary choreographers. Roles have been created for her by Constantin Patsalas in Das Lied von der Erde (1988), Kenneth Kreutzmann in Lullaby (1996) and Tim Rushton
Tim Rushton
Timothy John Rushton MBE is a British choreographer and artistic leader of the Copenhagen-based Danish Dance Theatre, Denmark's largest modern dance company....
in Carmina Burana
Carmina Burana
Carmina Burana , Latin for "Songs from Beuern" , is the name given to a manuscript of 254 poems and dramatic texts mostly from the 11th or 12th century, although some are from the 13th century. The pieces were written principally in Medieval Latin; a few in Middle High German, and some with traces...
(1997).
She produced Abdallah together with Flemming Ryberg and Bruce Marks
Bruce Marks (ballet)
Not to be confused with the former US Senator, Bruce Marks.Bruce Marks : Acclaimed as one of America’s most important Artistic Directors, Bruce Marks career spans the second half of the twentieth century. Marks is a world renowned dancer, performing both in ballet and modern dance...
for the Royal Danish Ballet (1986) and (as Arabian Nights) for the National Ballet of Canada
National Ballet of Canada
The National Ballet of Canada is Canada's largest ballet troupe. It was founded by Celia Franca in 1951 and is based in Toronto, Ontario. Based upon the unity of Canadian trained dancers in the tradition and style of England's Royal Ballet, The National is regarded as one of the premier classical...
(1988). In 1990, with Else Marianne von Rosen she staged Thrymskvinden at the Royal Danish Ballet. She produced La Sylphide for the Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland and one of the four leading ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet...
(1996) and for the Tokyo National Ballet (2000). In 2009, together with Nikolaj Hübbe
Nikolaj Hübbe
Nikolaj Hübbe is artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet. He was born on 30 October th, 1967, and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark. He began his dance training at age 10 at the Royal Danish Ballet School and became an apprentice to the Royal Danish Ballet in 1984. He was promoted soloist in 1988....
, she produced a new version of Napoli, now set in the Italy of the 1950s. The ballet was successfully received when performed in New York in 2011.
Sorella Englund is currently an instructor with the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen.
Awards
- Tagea Brandt RejselegatTagea Brandt RejselegatThe Tagea Brandt Rejselegat is awarded annually, on the 17 March.The scholarship was created and endowed by Danish industrialist Vilhelm Brandt in honor of his wife, Tagea...
(1978) - Bournonville-Legatet (Bournonville Grant) (1989)
- Karen Marie Thorsens Teaterlegat (Karen Marie Thorsen's Theatre Grant) (1996).