Silja Schandorff

Silja Maria Wendrup Schandorff (born 1969) is a Danish ballerina who performed with the Royal Danish Ballet from 1985 to 2009. She has since served the Royal Theatre as ballet instructor and deputy ballet master.[1][2]

Biography

Born on 10 February 1969 in Dragør, Silja Schandorff is the daughter of Axel Carl Schandorff, a Cyclist with Olympic bronze medal and goldsmith, and Runa Clara Wendrup Petersen, a ballet dancer in Tivoli's Pantomime Theatre. Thanks to the encouragement of her parents, she entered the Royal Theatre's ballet school in 1975. When only nine, she performed a solo children's dance in Elverhøj. After her début in Ib Andersen's 1-2-3–1-2 in 1975, she quickly moved on to the Neoclassical works of George Balanchine, starring in Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, Tzigane, La sonnambula, Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, Allegro Brillante, Agon and Apollo.[1]

As a result of her dancing in the theatre's Balanchine season, she became a principal in 1992. While she has taken roles in La Sylphide, Abdallah and A Folk Tale, she has not been a typical Bournonville dancer, given her tall, slender figure and her artistic temperament. Instead she has moved from the Royal Ballet's romantic traditions to 20th-century modernism. She combined the two approaches in her interpretation of Harald Lander's Études, setting new standards for the work.[1] Her favourite parts evolved as the title roles in Manon and Giselle.[2]

The choreographer Anna Lærkesen was particularly interested in Schandorff, creating adaptations specially for her. These included Partita, Polacca, Hommage à Bournonville and Hommage à Balanchine.[1] After retiring from the stage on 8 April 2009,[3] she remained with the Royal Theatre until 2016, serving as artistic coordinator and instructor (2009-11) and deputy ballet master (2011-16). She has since directed a new production of Giselle.[2]

Awards

Schandorff's awards include the Reumert prize as dancer of the year in 2002 and 2006, the Danish Theatre Cup in 2009 (for her role in Giselle)[4] and the Bikuben prize of honour in 2009. In 2016, she was honoured as a Knight of the Dannebrog.[2]

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References
  1. Meinertz, Alexander. "Silja Schandorff (1969 - )" (in Danish). Kvinfo. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  2. Wern, Vibeke (31 August 2016). "»Vi har jo allesammen oplevet, at vores hjerte brister«". Berlingske (in Danish). Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  3. Middelboe Christensen, Anne. "Silja Schandorff". Den Store Danske (in Danish). Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  4. "Silja Schandorff: Danish Prima Ballerina". Ballet Dance magazine. March 2009. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
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