Jean Börlin

Jean Börlin was a Swedish dancer and choreographer who was born in Härnösand on 13 March 1893 and died in New York on 6 December 1930. He worked with Michel Fokine, who was his teacher in Stockholm.

Jean Börlin was much appreciated by Michel Fokine, who later said of the Swedish dancer: ‘He’s the one who most resembles me! A natural! An ecstasy! The fanatical sacrifice of a battered body in order to give maximum choreographic expression’.

Trained at the Royal Swedish Ballet School, he joined the troupe in 1905 and was appointed principal dancer by Fokine in 1913. He joined his master in Copenhagen in 1918, then travelled around Europe and discovered modern dance.

On Fokine’s recommendation, he was hired by the Swedish Ballet Company, which had just been formed by Rolf de Maré. This marked his debut as a choreographer, as the vast majority of the Swedish Ballet’s choreographies bear his name. He danced for the company at a time when it was in constant competition with Serge de Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.

From 1920 onwards, he was principal dancer, teacher, ballet master and choreographer. Hailed by French critics, Börlin was considered the successor to Vaslav Nijinsky.

Jean Börlin died of illness in 1930, aged just 37.

Source: Wikipedia