Born: 1858 (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Died: 1932 (unknown location)
Biography:
Johanne Emilie Margrethe Walbom, later known as Emilie Walbom, was a Danish ballet dancer and choreographer who made significant contributions to the Royal Danish Ballet. Born on 27 October 1858 in Copenhagen, Walbom had a long and illustrious career spanning 61 years with the ballet company. She began her journey as a ballet dancer and eventually became the first female choreographer of the Royal Danish Ballet in 1878. In 1915, she took on the role of ballet mistress under the guidance of ballet master Gustav Uhlendorff.
Walbom was born to Frederik Ludvig Egense, the cloakroom manager at the Royal Theatre, and Anna Thora Maria Stendrup. Her aunt, Emilie Liebe, was an opera singer at the theatre, which likely influenced Walbom’s early exposure to the performing arts. At the age of five, she enrolled in the ballet school and made her stage debut in 1873 as the character Poul in Bournonville’s production of Fjernt fra Danmark. Although she did not possess the physical attributes typically associated with a first-class ballet dancer, Walbom’s talent as an actress and mime artist was widely recognized.
In 1881, Walbom married dancer and opera singer Arnold Alfred Constantin Walborn. Tragically, Walborn passed away in 1898, leaving her to care for their three children alone. Faced with the responsibility of providing for her family, Walbom embraced a new profession as a ballet teacher. Her exceptional skill and reputation attracted the daughters of affluent families in Copenhagen, many of whom aspired to pursue dancing as a career. In 1910, Walbom established her ballet school, known as Fru Walboms Balletskole, which she directed until 1928. Each season concluded with a matinée featuring her own choreographic creations inspired by her journeys to Berlin, Vienna, and Paris.
Walbom’s choreographic career at the Royal Theatre commenced in 1906 under the mentorship of ballet master Hans Beck. Her adaptation of Marius Petipa’s Les millions d’Arlequin in 1906 was well-received by both the cast and the audience. She continued to achieve success with her own libretto and music composed by Otto Malling in productions such as Askepot (Cinderella) in 1908. However, it was her masterpiece, Drømmebilleder, created in 1915 and based on Michel Fokine’s Carnaval for Les Ballets Russes, that truly made its mark. Walbom adapted the ballet to Danish culture, arranging it to music composed by H.C. Lumbye. This innovative work paved the way for a new approach to Danish ballet, drawing inspiration from the influence of Les Ballets Russes. She further solidified her artistic prowess with works such as En Nat i Ægypten (1918), based on Fokine’s Cleopatra.
Throughout her career, Walbom choreographed a total of 15 new works, including 11 ballets and a ballet pantomime, as well as two plays. Her impact extended beyond the stage, as she dedicated herself to teaching until the end of her life. Among her notable students were Marguerite Viby, Karin Nellemose, and Vera Gebuhr, all of whom achieved fame not only as stage performers but also as film actresses.
Emilie Walbom’s unexpected death occurred on 23 October 1932 while she was riding a tram. Her legacy lives on through her contributions to the Royal Danish Ballet, her innovative choreography, and her mentorship of future generations of dancers. Her enduring influence has shaped Danish ballet and solidified her status as a pioneering figure in women’s history.