Dancing across Europe: Danish prima ballerina Lucile Grahn

Lucile Grahn, the first Danish ballerina to become internationally famous and pursue a ballet career, danced on some of the most prestigious stages across Europe.

Who was Lucile Grahn?

Born in Copenhagen in 1819, Lucina Alexia Grahn was a ballerina, ballet mistress, and choreographer.

She trained at the Royal Danish Theatre School in Copenhagen, where her principal teacher was the ballet master August Bournonville. She made her official debut in 1834.

The following year, she created the leading role in Valdemar. Together with Bournonville, she travelled to Paris in 1834 to see Marie Taglioni in La Sylphide.

Upon their return to Denmark, they produced their own version.

Following successful productions and collaboration between Bournonville and Grahn, Soon differences appeared in the relationship between Bournonville and Grahn, as she wanted to dance at the famed Paris Opéra Ballet.

In 1839, Grahn eventually ended her position at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen and moved to Paris.

How did Lucile Grahn become a celebrated ballet dancer?

Within a few years, Grahn had performed multiple roles in the grand opera houses throughout Europe - in Paris, St Petersburg, Milan, Berlin and London.

Grahn became a famed, well-known dancer in her own right, touring throughout Europe. She frequently produced the ballets in which she appeared.

Within twenty years, Grahn had retired from the stage. In 1856, she married the Austrian tenor Friedrich Young.

From 1858 to 1861 she worked as ballet mistress in Leipzig, Germany. Later, from 1869 to 1875, she led the ballet school at the Court Opera in Munich.

Grahn died in 1907, aged 87, and is now remembered as one of the most popular ballerinas of the 19th century.