Per Christian Johansson

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Johansson, Christian (b Stockholm, 20 May 1817, d St Petersburg, 25 Dec. 1903). Swedish dancer and teacher. Although Swedish, he spent most of his career in Russia. He studied at the Royal Swedish Ballet School from 1829 and with Bournonville in Copenhagen. In 1837 he was appointed premier danseur in Stockholm where he partnered M. Taglioni. In 1841, however, he went to St Petersburg where, after a successful debut in La Gitana, he was made premier danseur. He remained at the Imperial Theatres until 1869, creating roles in several ballets by Perrot. But it is as a teacher that he is best remembered. Upon his retirement from the stage he became chief teacher at the Imperial Theatre School, where his pupils included Kshessinska, Preobrajenska, P. Gerdt, Nikolai Legat, Vaganova, Pavlova, and Karsavina. He was one of the most important figures in the development of the Russian school of dancing. He is credited with introducing greater use of ballon (as per his Bournonville training), precision batterie, and a variety of virtuoso pirouettes, and it is said that he never repeated an enchaînement, so inventive was he as a teacher. He often accompanied his own classes playing a violin.

Per Johansson may refer to several people:

• Per Johansson (swimmer), Swedish swimmer
• Per Johansson (trade unionist), Swedish trade unionist

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