Danish ballet has produced a long line of world-famous performers, and the Danish Royal Ballet, rooted in the 19th century tradition established by Auguste Bournonville, is a trend-setter throughout the ballet world. The repertoire is broad, with inspiration drawn right from Bournonville through Balanchine to the Beatles. In just a single season it might span the world’s oldest ballet, the Whims of Cupid and the Ballet Master (Amor og Balletmesterens Luner), to all-modern performances led by the Dane, Peter Martins of the New York City Ballet. One of the more famous of the Royal Ballet’s set designers is none other than Denmark’s Queen Margrethe who designed the costumes and sets for the ballet Et Folkesagn (“A Legend”).

Dance in the open-air
Every August the Danish Royal Ballet gives an open-air performance at Copenhagen’s old fortress Kastellet, where the father of Danish ballet, Auguste Bournonville, was once ballet master.

The world-famous Danish ballet dancer Peter Schaufuss has his own ballet company in Holstebro in West Jutland, from where, as Denmark’s leading independent company, the performers tour the world with new interpretations of the great classical ballets and new ballets created by Peter Schaufuss.

New, experimental scenes are popping up in many places around the country. The Dance Scene in Copenhagen is an exciting forum for modern dance with Nyt Dansk Danseteater as a key mover and shaker. Twelve companies and a number of choreographers are dedicated to an inspiring Danish dance environment, with performances bringing home awards for Denmark. In Århus, the MTB Danseteater is a significant regional ballet company with prominent performances by international choreographers. The Dance Festivals are held every year.

Denmark’s theatres offer a wealth of opportunity to enjoy the dramatic arts. The Royal Danish Theatre is Denmark’s national theatre and since 1748 has been housed at Kongens Nytorv in the heart of Copenhagen. The Theatre’s programme is highly diversified, and features more than 600 annual performances of drama, ballet and opera. In addition there are the great provincial theatres of Århus, Aalborg and Odense, as well as countless great and small stages, regional theatres, etc. both in Copenhagen and in large towns and cities throughout the country. Here tradition and innovation go hand in hand, with plenty of room for experimental drama.

The Odin Theatre, based in Holstebro, West Jutland is an experimental theatre of world-class standing. The Odin Theatre tours not only in Denmark, but also around the globe.

In summer, drama performances are given on unconventional stages such as Kronborg, the Dyrehaven park or in the courtyard of The Danish Museum of Decorative Art (Kunstindustrimuseet) in Copenhagen. Further afield in the provinces there are reviews, musicals and operettas performed open-air at city ramparts, Viking re-enactments and much more. The Tivoli Gardens has mime shows every evening at its Pantomime Teater, and in 2001 Denmark’s Queen will be responsible for set design and costumes for the mime show Kærlighed i Skarnkassen (“Love in the Dustbin”). 

Danish theatre history
The Theatre Museum in Copenhagen is housed in King Christian VII’s Court Theatre. The Museum’s exhibition presents the history of Danish theatre from 1700 to the present day.