Erik Bruhn

Lore & Background

Erik Bruhn was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, the fourth child and first son of Ellen (née Evers), owner of a hairdressing salon, and third child of Ernst Bruhn. His parents married shortly before his birth. He began training with the Royal Danish Ballet at age nine and made his unofficial stage debut in 1946 dancing Adonis in Harald Lander's ballet Thorvaldsen. He was taken permanently into the company in 1947.

Career

That same year he took his first sabbatical, dancing for six months with the Metropolitan Ballet in England, where he formed his first major partnership with Sonia Arova. He returned to the Royal Danish Ballet in spring 1948 and was promoted to soloist in 1949. Later in 1949 he joined American Ballet Theatre in New York, where he would dance regularly for the next nine years, though his home company remained the Royal Danish Ballet.

The turning point in his international career came on 1 May 1955 with his debut as Albrecht in Giselle partnering Alicia Markova. He formally resigned from the Danish ballet in 1961 but continued as a guest artist. Over the next ten years he formed long relationships as a guest artist with Ballet Theatre and most major ballet companies in Europe and North America.

He was best known for lead roles in La Sylphide, Giselle, Frederick Ashton's Romeo and Juliet, and Swan Lake. John Cranko made Daphnis and Chlöe on him in 1962 at the Stuttgart Ballet, which Bruhn considered his favorite among ballets created for him. He was also acclaimed in dramatic roles such as Jean in Miss Julie, the Moor in The Moor's Pavane, and Don José in Carmen. He had significant dance partnerships with many ballerinas including Sonia Arova, Cynthia Gregory, Nora Kaye, Allegra Kent, Maria Tallchief, Natalia Makarova, Kirstin Simone, Nadia Nerina, and most famously Carla Fracci.

Awards and retirement

He authored the book Beyond Technique (1968). He was made a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1963, the same year he was awarded the Nijinsky Prize in Paris. After retiring as a danseur noble in 1972, he danced character roles. He was director of the Swedish Opera Ballet from 1967 to 1973 and the National Ballet of Canada from 1983 until his death.

He twice declined the directorship of the Royal Danish Ballet. His productions of full-length classical ballets were well received. In 1974 he played a leading role in the stage play Rashomon in Denmark.

Reader's Guide

Erik Bruhn was a Danish ballet dancer, choreographer, artistic director, actor, and author. He was the fourth child of Ellen Evers and the third child of Ernst Bruhn. He began training at the Royal Danish Ballet at age nine, debuted in 1946, and joined the company permanently in 1947. He danced regularly at American Ballet Theatre for nine years after joining in 1949, though his tenure was intermittent.

His breakthrough came in 1955 partnering Alicia Markova in Giselle. He resigned from the Danish ballet in 1961 but continued as a guest artist. He directed the Swedish Opera Ballet (1967–1973) and the National Ballet of Canada (1983–1986). He died of lung cancer in 1986.

Did You Know?

• His 1955 debut in Giselle with Alicia Markova was called 'a date to write down in the history books' by critic John Martin.