Heidi Ryom has died

[Alexandra]

Considering the good news Jane Simpson posted below, it's even sadder to have to report such sad news. Heidi Ryom, one of the leading ballerinas in the 1980s and '90s, has died suddenly. Here's a report by Eva Kistrup:

http://danceviewtimes.typepad.com/eva_kistrup/2013/10/heidi-ryom-dies-suddenly-.html

For those who read Danish, there's an appreciation of Ryom in today's Berlingske Tidende by Viveka Wern:

http://www.b.dk/navne/den-skoenneste-svane-er-doed

[Drew]

Considering the good news Jane Simpson posted below, it's even sadder to have to report such sad news. Heidi Ryom, one of the leading ballerinas in the 1980s and '90s, has died suddenly. Here's a report by Eva Kistrup:

http://danceviewtimes.typepad.com/eva_kistrup/2013/10/heidi-ryom-dies-suddenly-.html

For those who read Danish, there's an appreciation of Ryom in today's Berlingske Tidende by Viveka Wern:

http://www.b.dk/navne/den-skoenneste-svane-er-doed

Sad news indeed--and she was quite young. I have vivid recollection of her fabulous Swanilda in the Danes' distinctive Coppelia. I probably saw her in a Bournonville variation or two but that is the performance that has stayed with me. I wish I could have seen her dance more though--the article mentions how she developed her repertory. Best thoughts to her family and friends.

[cubanmiamiboy]

RIP Mrs. Ryom.

We've had two different outcomes recently from brain aneurysms within the ballet world; Mr. Garcia from MCB and this now...

[Pamela Moberg]

Very sad news, she was still young and had so much more to give. Sadly, I never saw her perform live, only on TV. Thank you, Alexandra, for posting the obituary from Berlingske Tidende. RIP Fru Ryom. Condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.

[Natalia]

This is so sad. I'll never forget Heidi Ryom's wondrous Giselle or the lead in Napoli, in the 1980s/90s version. May she rest in peace.

[checkwriter]

On Friday, as part of the Royal Theater's contribution to Copenhagen's "Kulternatten" ("Culture Night"), the theater will present (among other things) a new work created by Ms. Ryom titled "Østrogen," ("Estrogen"). The piece focuses on three women -- Karen Blixen, Marilyn Monroe, and Twiggy -- who inspired Ms. Ryom at various points in her life.

[Paul Parish]

She was a wonderful performer!. I too only saw her on video -- great Giselle, and extremely vivid amid the restraints of Bournonville.... she seemed to relish the exactness required.

The Ballerina Gallery has a number of pictures of her, including this one of her in Rubies. I wish I'd seen her dance that.

http://www.ballerinagallery.com/pic/ryom01.jpg

[Alexandra]

Another article on Heidi Ryom (also in Danish) by Anne Middleboe Christensen:

http://www.information.dk/474461

[Anne]

In the main foyer of the Royal Danish Theatre they have made a small exhibition in memoriam of Heidi Ryom with pictures from the many ballets she has danced in and a few props, costumes and accessories: Juliet's garland from act 1, Tatiana's dress from act 1, Odette's diadem and other items easily recognizable from the many wellknown photos of her.

She was a remarkable dancer with a wide range, much wider than one should have thought in the first decade of her career. Her technique was formidable right form the beginning, which can be verified be watching this youtube-clip from the 1986 recording of Napoli: clip.

It is difficult to beat this effortless rendering of Bournonville's vivacious steps!

But she was more than a happy smile and a swift technician. In 1987 I went to Copenhagen to see Romeo and Juliet, and like it was then one hadn't a clue who was going to dance before one stood with the printed cast list on the day of the performance. On the list were Nikolaj Hübbe, whom I hadn't even heard of, and Heidi Ryom, who had always annoyed me slightly with her constant happy-go-lucky-smile. I therefore took my seat with a very negative attitude and expected to be very disappointed. But it turned out to be the performance of a lifetime. It was the most gripping Romeo and Juliet I had ever seen, and it has never been surpassed. From then on Heidi Ryom was a dancer I seeked out, if I had the possibility, and I have been lucky to see her perform in many of her major roles: Tatiana, Teresina and Giselle. I missed out on her Odette and her Sylphide. I'm sorry to say, but it is difficult when you don't live in Copenhagen to get to see exactly the dancers you'd like to.

I suppose she could have had an international career, but she was – luckily for us – happy with her life at the RDB. I suppose the repertoire of this company was ideally suited to her talent – or was it the other way round? It was dancers like her and Lis Jeppesen who were at the very heart of the golden era in the late eighties and early nineties and they were the link to a new memorable generation of young dancers like Nikolaj Hübbe and Alexander Kölpin, among others.

[Drew]

In the main foyer of the Royal Danish Theatre they have made a small exhibition in memoriam of Heidi Ryom with pictures from the many ballets she has danced in and a few props, costumes and accessories: Juliet's garland from act 1, Tatiana's dress from act 1, Odette's diadem and other items easily recognizable from the many wellknown photos of her.

She was a remarkable dancer with a wide range, much wider than one should have thought in the first decade of her career. Her technique was formidable right form the beginning, which can be verified be watching this youtube-clip from the 1986 recording of Napoli: clip.

It is difficult to beat this effortless rendering of Bournonville's vivacious steps!

But she was more than a happy smile and a swift technician. In 1987 I went to Copenhagen to see Romeo and Juliet, and like it was then one hadn't a clue who was going to dance before one stood with the printed cast list on the day of the performance. On the list were Nikolaj Hübbe, whom I hadn't even heard of, and Heidi Ryom, who had always annoyed me slightly with her constant happy-go-lucky-smile. I therefore took my seat with a very negative attitude and expected to be very disappointed. But it turned out to be the performance of a lifetime. It was the most gripping Romeo and Juliet I had ever seen, and it has never been surpassed. From then on Heidi Ryom was a dancer I seeked out, if I had the possibility, and I have been lucky to see her perform in many of her major roles: Tatiana, Teresina and Giselle. I missed out on her Odette and her Sylphide. I'm sorry to say, but it is difficult when you don't live in Copenhagen to get to see exactly the dancers you'd like to.

I suppose she could have had an international career, but she was – luckily for us – happy with her life at the RDB. I suppose the repertoire of this company was ideally suited to her talent – or was it the other way round? It was dancers like her and Lis Jeppesen who were at the very heart of the golden era in the late eighties and early nineties and they were the link to a new memorable generation of young dancers like Nikolaj Hübbe and Alexander Kölpin, among others.

Loved the video--thank you. It was something of a golden age when Ryom was dancing classical roles. As well as Jeppesen, I remember, too, Arne Villumsen, Linda Hindberg, and the young Ib Anderson among other favorites from the tours I saw at that time. Unfortunately, I have never been to Copenhagen.

[Anne]

Oh yes, Ib Andersen, Arne Villumsen and Lindberg were marvelous dancers too, and Villumsen and Hindberg made a wonderful couple on stage: They suited each other very well, both of them dancers of a certain stature and both of them rather powerful without being heavy. And they were both extremely good looking, in a very natural way!