Background
Frølich was born in Copenhagen, and was accepted as a student in the ballet school of the Court-Theater in 1771.
Frølich was born in Copenhagen, and was accepted as a student in the ballet school of the Court-Theater in 1771.
Chronologically, she can be seen as the first Danish ballerina, and the first native star within the Royal Danish Ballet. Anine Frølich was perhaps the principal figure in the emergence of classical ballet as a distinct art-form in Denmark. The Court-Theater had been founded in 1767 at the Christiansborg Palace by Pierre Laurent, formerly of the French theatre troupe.
lieutenant was to be merged with the Royal Danish Theatre in 1772.
From 1775, Frølich came under the influence of the Italian dancer Vincenzo Galeotti. Having been made ballet-master of the Court Theater, he completely reformed the Danish ballet and stimulated a new enthusiasm for the art among the public.
Until then, Danish ballet had been abstract and undramatic, formal and stilted. The idea of ballet as a dramatic art was introduced into Denmark by Galeotti, who made Frølich the star vehicle of his innovative choreography.
With her expressive manner of dancing she complemented perfectly the new style of ballet under his direction.
Under his leadership she became the ruling ballerina of the Danish ballet. One of her most famous roles was in the ballet Den forlodte Dido in 1777. She and Galeotti also became lovers, but the relationship ended unhappily.
Exhausted by the intense physical demands of her art, Frohlich"s health deteriorated quickly.
In 1784, she collapsed during a performance and was carried home, but died shortly afterwards in Copenhagen.