Else Højgaard (18 April 1906â€"11 July 1979) was a Danish ballerina
and an actress of stage and screen. Noted for a fiery temperament and
edgy intensity, Højgaard premiered as a solo ballerina for George
Balanchine in 1931 and was the primary dancer for Harald Lander until
1942. Højgaard later went on to a long career as a dramatic actress,
performing and teaching at the Royal Danish Theatre. She performed in
radio and television, and played supporting roles in several films
including the dark drama Café Paradis (1950). Højgaard was awarded a
knighthood in the Order of the Dannebrog in 1961 and promoted to
Knight 1st Class in 1971.Else Højgaard (née Andreasen) was born on
18 April 1906 on Bornholm, Denmark, the daughter of a civil attorney.
At the age of 12, Højgaard became a student at the Royal Danish
Theatre ballet school in Copenhagen and graduated in 1929. She debuted
in the role of Amelie in the 1928 production of Drømmebilleder and
was chosen to perform the solo of Terpsichore in George Balanchine's
1931 staging of Apollon Musagete. Following that performance,
Højgaard was a solo ballerina for the Royal Danish Ballet until her
retirement from ballet performance in 1942. She was the primary dancer
for Harald Lander's revival of the August Bournonville ballets. Known
for a fiery temperament, she was noted for her highly dramatic and
lyrical performances, lending a modern, anti-romantic presentation to
her roles.While employed as a ballerina, Højgaard also attended the
Royal Danish Theatre's drama school from 1932 to 1934 and made her
stage debut in Anker Larsen's Son of Zeus (1935). She later performed
as the dancer Arabella in the 1938 film musical Champagnegaloppen.
However, it wasn't until she left the ballet in 1942 that Højgaard
dedicated herself to acting and demonstrated a dramatic stage presence
that was "independent", "indestructible", and "almost defiant." Noted
performances included the Karen Blixen-like character of Julia in T.S.
Eliot's The Cocktail Party and the emotional sister Irene in Søskende
(1952). Højgaard performed in both radio and television, and she was
an instructor for 16 years at the Royal Danish Theatre until 1967. In
1971, at the age of 65, Højgaard returned to ballet to perform the
role of Old Woman in Dødens triumf (The Triumph of Death). In 1961,
Højgaard was awarded knighthood in the Order of the Dannebrog and in
1972, she was promoted to Knight of the First Degree.During a career
that spanned four decades, Højgaard performed supporting roles in
several films. According to cinema historian Morten Piils, the edgy
nervousness and intensity of Højgaard's appearance prevented her from
being offered lead roles in films. However, her few roles were often
memorable performances, such as that of the judgmental Agnes in the
darkly dramatic Danish masterpiece Café Paradis. Her final
performance was in the 1972 children's film Mig og Charley. Højgaard
died on 11 July 1979 at the age of 73 during a fire at her summer
house on Bornholm.
and an actress of stage and screen. Noted for a fiery temperament and
edgy intensity, Højgaard premiered as a solo ballerina for George
Balanchine in 1931 and was the primary dancer for Harald Lander until
1942. Højgaard later went on to a long career as a dramatic actress,
performing and teaching at the Royal Danish Theatre. She performed in
radio and television, and played supporting roles in several films
including the dark drama Café Paradis (1950). Højgaard was awarded a
knighthood in the Order of the Dannebrog in 1961 and promoted to
Knight 1st Class in 1971.Else Højgaard (née Andreasen) was born on
18 April 1906 on Bornholm, Denmark, the daughter of a civil attorney.
At the age of 12, Højgaard became a student at the Royal Danish
Theatre ballet school in Copenhagen and graduated in 1929. She debuted
in the role of Amelie in the 1928 production of Drømmebilleder and
was chosen to perform the solo of Terpsichore in George Balanchine's
1931 staging of Apollon Musagete. Following that performance,
Højgaard was a solo ballerina for the Royal Danish Ballet until her
retirement from ballet performance in 1942. She was the primary dancer
for Harald Lander's revival of the August Bournonville ballets. Known
for a fiery temperament, she was noted for her highly dramatic and
lyrical performances, lending a modern, anti-romantic presentation to
her roles.While employed as a ballerina, Højgaard also attended the
Royal Danish Theatre's drama school from 1932 to 1934 and made her
stage debut in Anker Larsen's Son of Zeus (1935). She later performed
as the dancer Arabella in the 1938 film musical Champagnegaloppen.
However, it wasn't until she left the ballet in 1942 that Højgaard
dedicated herself to acting and demonstrated a dramatic stage presence
that was "independent", "indestructible", and "almost defiant." Noted
performances included the Karen Blixen-like character of Julia in T.S.
Eliot's The Cocktail Party and the emotional sister Irene in Søskende
(1952). Højgaard performed in both radio and television, and she was
an instructor for 16 years at the Royal Danish Theatre until 1967. In
1971, at the age of 65, Højgaard returned to ballet to perform the
role of Old Woman in Dødens triumf (The Triumph of Death). In 1961,
Højgaard was awarded knighthood in the Order of the Dannebrog and in
1972, she was promoted to Knight of the First Degree.During a career
that spanned four decades, Højgaard performed supporting roles in
several films. According to cinema historian Morten Piils, the edgy
nervousness and intensity of Højgaard's appearance prevented her from
being offered lead roles in films. However, her few roles were often
memorable performances, such as that of the judgmental Agnes in the
darkly dramatic Danish masterpiece Café Paradis. Her final
performance was in the 1972 children's film Mig og Charley. Højgaard
died on 11 July 1979 at the age of 73 during a fire at her summer
house on Bornholm.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.