Lucile Grahn

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Grahn, Lucile (b Copenhagen, 30 June 1819, d Munich, 4 Apr. 1907). Danish dancer. The most important Danish dancer of her day, and the first to achieve stardom outside Denmark. She studied with Bournonville at the Royal Danish Theatre School in Copenhagen; later with Jean-Baptiste Barrez in Paris. She made her debut at the age of 7 in Copenhagen, playing the part of Cupid; she made her official debut in 1834. The following year she created the role of Astrid in Bournonville's Valdemar and in 1836 she took the title role in his staging of La Sylphide, a ballet that was to bring her great success outside Denmark as well. Quitteria in his Don Quixote followed in 1837, the year she was appointed a principal. But after a few short years as Bournonville's favourite, she fled Copenhagen to launch herself on an international career. It was widely believed that she left because Bournonville made advances towards her; it is also possible that she could not fit in with his dictatorial style of leadership. She made her Paris Opera debut in Le Carnaval de Venise in 1838 and joined the Paris Opera in 1839, where she became Elssler's rival. In 1843 she made her first appearance in St Petersburg. She was one of the four original ballerinas in Perrot's Pas de quatre, made in London in 1845. Also at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, she created the title role in Perrot's Eoline (1845) and in his Catarina, ou La Fille du bandit (1846). She enjoyed a busy career as a guest artist on all the main stages of Europe. Her break with Denmark was sealed when she supported Germany in the war with Denmark in 1848. She resigned as a dancer in 1856, but worked as a ballet mistress in Leipzig (1858-61) and at the Munich Court Opera (1869-75) where she helped Wagner to stage Das Rheingold and Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

Lithograph by J. Branard of Lucile Grahn in the title role of the Perrot/Pugni Catarina. Here Grahn is costumed for the celebrated Pas stragétique. London, 1846

Lucile Alexia Grahn (June 30, 1819 - April 4, 1907) was the first internationally renowned Danish ballerina and one of the popular dancers of the Romantic ballet era.

Grahn studied from a young age at the Royal Danish Theatre School in Copenhagen, Denmark under the tutelage of August Bournonville. She officially debuted in 1834 at the theater and took on the leading role of Astrid in Bournonville's Valdemar in 1835. Soon, the relationship between Bournonville and Grahn began to sour, as she yearned to dance at the famed Théâtre de l'Académie Royale de Musique (or Paris Opéra). She eventually received royal permission to leave, and never returned to Denmark.

In 1839, Grahn left the Royal Theatre and began showing at the Paris Opera. Between 1839 and 1845, Grahn danced at several various theatres, including London, St. Petersburg, and Milan. In 1845, her career reached stardom when she was part of the Pas de Quatre alongside Fanny Cerrito, Carlotta Grisi, and Marie Taglioni.

After 1846, Grahn toured much of Europe, not only dancing, but also producing several ballets, including a revival of Perrot's Catarina, and her 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.

Grahn retired from dancing in 1856 and was married to Friedrich Young. Her career turned to being a ballet mistress from 1858 to 1861 in Leipzig, Germany and from 1869 to 1875 at the Court Opera in Munich. She died in Munich in 1907, and left her generous estate to the city.

External links

• Andros on Ballet

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