Kirsten Ralov

Background

She was born to Kai and Kaja Gnatt, née Olsen, a family of dancers living in Baden, Austria.

Career

She entered the school of the Royal Danish Ballet at the age of 22, and was associated with that troupe throughout her career. Her theatrical debut was as a child in Konservatoriet in 1933. Her first solo performance as an adult was in 1941 in Louisiana Ventana.

Throughout her artistic career, she primarily performed on the stage of the Royal Theater in Copenhagen, where she was most notable for her ballet performances of the works of August Bournonville.

Her farewell performance was in 1962, where she danced the Ballerina Doll in Petrouchka by Michel Fokine. Thereafter, she became the ballet mistress for the Royal Danish Ballet.

Her four part work, The Bournonville School (1979), includes daily classes teaching the Bournonville technique, along with the associated sheet music She was first married to Børge Ralov, then later to Fredbjorn Bjornsson.

Both Danish dancers. She had two sons.

Connections

associate:

Henning Kronstam