Niels Bjørn Larsen (1913–2003). Danish dancer, choreographer and ballet master

Niels Bjørn Larsen was born in Copenhagen in 1913 and entered the Royal Danish Ballet School in 1920. In 1922 he danced in Hans Beck’s version of Coppélia. Larsen subsequently worked with Beck, a custodian of the works of the great choreographer August Bournonville. Larsen and his contemporary, Hans Brenna, were destined to take on the mantle of custodians of the rich heritage of Danish ballet.

Larsen joined the Royal Danish Ballet in 1933, though he was involved in various other projects until he was made a principal in 1942. He became the foremost mime of his time, produced ballets, taught the company and was ballet master from 1953 to 1956 and again from 1960 to 1966. In between he was the artistic director of the pantomime theatre at the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. Although Niels Bjørn Larsen officially retired from the Royal Danish Ballet in 1985, he played the role of Dr Coppélius in Coppélia in 1993 on the occasion of his 80th birthday. He died in 2003.