Lucile Grahn
Lucile Grahn | |
|---|---|
Munich, Germany | |
| Nationality | Danish |
Pugni
Catarina. Here Grahn is costumed for the celebrated Pas stragétique. London, 1846
Lucile Alexia Grahn-Young (30 June 1819 – 4 April 1907) was the first internationally renowned
ballerina and one of the popular dancers of the Romantic ballet era.[1]
Grahn studied from a young age at the
Valdemar in 1835. Soon the relationship between Bournonville and Grahn began to sour as she yearned to dance with the famed Paris Opera Ballet. Grahn reportedly changed some of the steps in Valdemar to show off her footwork, prompting Bournonville to make a formal complaint to the theatre directors.[2] In 1836, she created the title role in Bournonville's La Sylphide.[2] She eventually received royal permission to leave; after her departure in 1836, she never returned to Denmark.[3]
In 1839, Grahn had overstayed the terms of her formal leave, and was dropped from the Royal Danish Ballet's rolls. She had been appearing with the Paris 'Opera' Ballet; from 1839 to 1845, extending her audience base, Grahn danced in several cities, including
Pas de Quatre alongside the already famous dancers Fanny Cerrito, Carlotta Grisi, and Marie Taglioni.[3] As the least well-known of the four, Grahn agreed to dance first.[2]
After 1846, Grahn toured much of Europe, not only dancing, but also producing several ballets, including a revival of
Catarina, and even her own play Bacchus et Ariadne. Grahn moved to Hamburg, Germany in 1848 and became so fond of the country that she built a home in Munich.[3][4]
Grahn retired from dancing in 1856 and was married to
Court Opera in Munich. She died in Munich in 1907, and left her generous estate to the city.[3]
See also
References
- ^ "Lucile Grahn". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- ^ OCLC 466091730.
- ^ a b c d "Lucile Grahn-Young (1819–1907)". Dansk kvindebiografisk leksikon (in Danish). Retrieved 28 February 2014.
- ^ "Lucile Grahn-Young" (in Danish). Dansk Bibliografisk Leksikon. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
"The International Dance Encyclopedia," articles on 'Lucille Grahn' and 'Auguste Bournonville,' (Vol II, pp. 503–08) Oxford University Press, 1998.
