Adeline Genée

Adeline Genée ( born January 6, 1878 in Aarhus, Denmark, † April 23, 1970 in London, England; born Anna ( Anita ) Kirstina Margarete Petra Jensen ) was a Danish ballet dancer. Among her best roles Coppélia by Léo Delibes was among the.

Age of three Anita Jensen received dance lessons from her uncle Alexandre Genée. At eight years old she was adopted by her uncle and his wife Antonia Zimmermann. They changed their last name in Genée and her first name Adeline in honor of the Italian opera star Adelina Patti.

In 1895 she was principal dancer at the Royal Opera House in Copenhagen. In 1896 she had engagements in Berlin and Munich. In 1897 she received an invitation to England. The stay, which originally should be six weeks to complete, finally grew up on 10 years. Genée enjoyed success in the UK, U.S. and Australia.

After her active career, she was a teacher and ballet ( 1920), co-founder and first president of the Association of Teachers of Operatic Dancing of Great Britain ( later renamed the Royal Academy of Dancing, today: Royal Academy of Dance ). She died at the age of 92 years in the London suburb of Esher.

The since 1931 carried out by the Royal Academy of Dance International Ballet Competition for young dancers is named after her, Genee International Ballet Competition.