Jean Börlin


Jean Börlin was a Swedish dancer and choreographer. He worked with Michel Fokine, who was his teacher in Stockholm.

Biography

Jean Börlin was born in Härnösand, Sweden. He was held in high esteem by Michel Fokine, who will later say of the Swedish dancer, "He is the one who looks the most like me! A natural! An ecstasy! The fanatic sacrifice of a bruised body to give the maximum of choreographic expression". Trained at the Royal Swedish Ballet, he joined the troupe in 1905 and was named first dancer by Fokine in 1913. He joined his master in Copenhagen in 1918, then traveled to Europe and discovered modern dance.
Recommended by Fokine, he was recruited for the newly formed Ballets suédois by Rolf de Maré. This marked his first steps as a choreographer; the vast majority of Ballets suédois choreographies bear his name. He danced for the company at a time when it was in constant competition with Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes. From 1920, he became principal dancer, teacher, ballet master and choreographer. Hailed by the French critics, Börlin is considered the successor of Vaslav Nijinsky.

Personal life

Börlin and Rolf de Maré met through their common friend Nils Dardel in 1918, and de Maré became his lover and protector.
Jean Börlin died of organ failure caused by a liver disease in 1930 when he was only 37 years old. Even though he died in New York, he had asked to be buried in Paris, at Père Lachaise Cemetery.

Main choreographies

Filmography