Carl Dahlén
Carl Dahlén (1770 – December 1, 1851) was a Swedish ballet dancer and choreographer, active first at the Royal Swedish Ballet at the Royal Swedish Opera in Stockholm, and second at the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen at the Royal Danish Theatre in Denmark. He belonged to the first male Swedish stars at the Royal Swedish ballet.
Life
He was made a figurante in the ballet 1785, a coryfee in 1789 and premier dancer in 1791. He participated in the pantomime ballet Det dubbla giftermålet by Jean-Rémy Marcadet opposite Margaretha Christina Hallongren, Hedda Hjortsberg, Joseph Saint-Fauraux Raimond and Carlo Caspare Simone Uttini the 1790–91 season. He was admired for his beauty and grace and was given attention by king Gustav III of Sweden. The circumstances of his departure from the Swedish ballet was well known. A nobleman from the royal court was sent to him with the message from the king, that he had been given a higher allowance; upon delivering the message, the courtier "allowed himself" a certain remarc in connection to this, which insulted Dahlen, who gave him a slap to the face. Dahlen then quickly left the capital in fear of the noblemans revenge. He was active at the ballet in Copenhagen for the rest of his career. He also composed his own ballet, Armida, which was performed in 1821–22. He retired in 1823. He married the Danish singer Johanna Elisabeth Morthorst who were active at the theatre in Copenhagen in 1784–1827.
References
- Kungliga teaterns repertoar 1773-1973 (The repertoire of the Royal Theatre 1773-1973) (Swedish)
- Nils Bohman: Svenska män och kvinnor. Bok 2 (Swedish men and women. Dictionary. Book 2) (Swedish)
- Arvid Ahnfelt: Europas konstnärer (The artists of Europe) (1887) (Swedish)