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This article is from the Ballet and Modern Dance FAQ, by Tom Parsons twp@panix.com with numerous contributions by others.

4.8.2. Who was August Bournonville?

August Bournonville (1805-1879) was soloist, choreographer, and
ballet master of the Royal Danish Ballet from 1830 to 1877. His father,
Antoine, had been born in France and had studied with Noverre. August went
his own way and created a style that persists in Danish ballet to this day.
Unlike most 19th-century ballet, it has significant roles for male dancers,
and dancers of both sexes are given very demanding technical work to do.
Pointe work was less important in the Bournonville style than elsewhere,
and the ballerina did not have the commanding position she had elsewhere
in Europe at that time.

 

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• prev: 4.8.1. Who was Carlo Blasis?
• Index
• next: 4.8.3. The primacy of the ballerina

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