Bournonville

Bournonville refers primarily to August Bournonville, a Danish ballet master and choreographer of the 19th century, and to the dance tradition and repertoire associated with him. The name also appears in the history of the Royal Danish Ballet, where his influence shaped a distinctive national style that persisted beyond his lifetime.

Born in Copenhagen in 1805, August Bournonville came from a dance family; his father was the French dancer Antoine Bournonville, who settled in Denmark and influenced the Royal Danish Ballet. August joined the company as a dancer and eventually became its chief choreographer and long-serving director. Among his most enduring contributions is the ballet La Sylphide (1836), a landmark work that helped define Romantic ballet in Denmark and remains a core part of the company’s repertoire. He produced numerous other ballets for the Danish stage, emphasizing a coherent narrative through dance and mime.

The Bournonville technique, or method, is a codified approach to training and performance that the Royal Danish Ballet continues to uphold. It is characterized by clear musical phrasing, buoyant and precise footwork, and refined épaulement and port de bras. Turnout and light, springy movement are balanced with a legible, storytelling-driven mime. The corps de ballet and principals alike are trained to execute swift, accurate footwork with an emphasis on character and narrative clarity rather than sheer virtuosity.

Legacy and influence endure through the Royal Danish Ballet, which preserves the Bournonville repertoire and pedagogy. The Bournonville tradition has influenced dance schools and companies worldwide, contributing a distinctly Danish voice to the history of ballet.