Ballerina. A distinguished performer and choreographer, she shall be remembered for her long career with the Royal Danish Ballet. The child of a military family, she had early ambitions to become a dancer and studied privately prior to her 1959 acceptance at the elite Royal Danish Ballet School. Anna soon made her company debut with a minor role in the piece that would become her signature, Bournville's "La Sylphide", though she quickly graduated to the lead. Appointed Solo Dancer in 1964, in 1966 she became only the second lady to be designated Prima Ballerina; over the years, she performed a large number of roles, earning particular note in Frederick Ashton's "Romeo and Juliet", Antony Tudor's "Lilac Garden", Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake", and Adolph Adam's "Giselle". Her 1984 retirement due to orthopedic problems was more-or-less involuntary, so she decided on a second career in choreography. In 1994, Anna created "In the Blue" for the New York City Ballet, earning rave reviews for her effort; she continued working with a number of ensembles including the San Francisco Ballet and the Opera of Stockholm and died following a protracted illness.
Ballerina. A distinguished performer and choreographer, she shall be remembered for her long career with the Royal Danish Ballet. The child of a military family, she had early ambitions to become a dancer and studied privately prior to her 1959 acceptance at the elite Royal Danish Ballet School. Anna soon made her company debut with a minor role in the piece that would become her signature, Bournville's "La Sylphide", though she quickly graduated to the lead. Appointed Solo Dancer in 1964, in 1966 she became only the second lady to be designated Prima Ballerina; over the years, she performed a large number of roles, earning particular note in Frederick Ashton's "Romeo and Juliet", Antony Tudor's "Lilac Garden", Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake", and Adolph Adam's "Giselle". Her 1984 retirement due to orthopedic problems was more-or-less involuntary, so she decided on a second career in choreography. In 1994, Anna created "In the Blue" for the New York City Ballet, earning rave reviews for her effort; she continued working with a number of ensembles including the San Francisco Ballet and the Opera of Stockholm and died following a protracted illness.
Bio by: Bob Hufford
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