Niels Bjorn Larsen

Niels Bjørn Larsen, born in Copenhagen on 15 October 1913, was a Danish ballet dancer, choreographer, and balletmaster who also appeared on Broadway. He died on 13 March 2003.

Larsen entered the Royal Danish Ballet school in 1920 and made his performance debut in a production of Gudindernes Strid in 1933. In the early 1930s he toured Europe and the United States alongside Swiss mime Trudi Schoop, and supplemented that experience with a study trip to France, England, and the United States. Those years of travel and study formed the foundation of his work as a mime and character dancer. He appeared on Broadway in 1935, with credits including Want Ads and Fridolin On the Road. He was promoted to soloist with the Royal Danish Ballet in 1942 and continued his association with the company until 1986.

His administrative and creative roles were equally substantial. Larsen served as balletmaster at the Royal Danish Theatre during two separate tenures, from 1951 to 1956 and again from 1961 to 1965. Between 1956 and 1980 he held the position of artistic leader of the Pantomime Theatre at Tivoli. As a choreographer he created works for the Royal Danish Theatre, the Pantomime Theatre, and other venues, as well as for film. Beginning in 1950 he also undertook the documentation of performances from the Royal Danish Ballet.

In his personal life, Larsen married pianist Elvi Henriksen on 13 August 1946; the couple had a daughter, Dinna Bjørn. He was awarded the Knight of the 1st Class in the Order of the Dannebrog and is buried at Bispebjerg Kirkegård.