Recalling a master of ballet

Press, 29 September 1979, Page 17

Recalling a master of ballet

The Royal Danish Ballet and Bournonville. Special issue of the "Danish Journal." 48 pp. The “Danish Journal,” published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, has brought out a special iSsue on August Bournonville, the great ballet master, choreographer and dancer, io mark the centenary of his death. August Boumonville’s romantic ballets have been accepted in the international repertoire he dreamed of conquering in his youth as a dancer, more than 100 years ago. They are still retained by the Royal Danish Ballet, his home base, which claims the Western world’s oldest ballet tradition. His particular style, though somewhat changed today, is still used by the school’s teachers, one of whom is Kirsten Ralov a former principal

ballerina of the company and sister of Poul Gnatt. Miss Ralov and her husband, Frgdbjorn Bjornssdn, led the New Zealand Ballet in their production of Boumonville’s masterpiece “Napoli” in 1962 when Pou! Gnatt was the company’s director. Late this year the New Zealand Ballet will present “La Sylphide”. Both these works will be included in the Bournonville Festival to be performed by the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen in November. Top Danish and American ballet writers have, by their contributions to the Bournonville booklet, pinpointed the man, his works, the Royal Danish Ballet and its fine performers, in their rightful place in the international dance scene. The text is fully illustrated with new photographs and old drawings.—Tui Thomas.