Harald Lander

Who was Harald Lander?

Harald Alfred Bernhardt Stevnsborg Lander is a Danish dancer, choreographer and artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet.

Lander started as a dancer, studying under ballet master Michel Fokine in 1926-27. He danced various principal roles until his retirement in 1945.

During his tenure as artistic director and ballet master of the Royal Danish Ballet from 1932 to 1951, he enriched the company's repertoire with productions of Fokine's iconic masterpieces and Bournonville revivals.Lander married Margot Lander in 1930 .

His most famous choreographic work, "Études", which later brought him international fame, is considered an homage to classical ballet training. "Études" is a one-act ballet that begins with traditional ballet exercises at a barre and ends with spectacular bravura displays.

He became ballet master of the Paris Opera Ballet in 1953 and opened his own studio in Paris in 1964. He was decorated by the governments of Denmark, Belgium, and France for his contributions to ballet. Lander returned to Copenhagen shortly before his death in 1971.