Tom47 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Does anyone know if Nini Theilade is still alive and how I could email her? Tom, Link to comment
Tom47 Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 From what I have read, Nini Theilade was born in Poerwokerto, Banjoemas, Dutch East Indies (now in Indonesia) on June 15, 1915 [from IMDb]. I believe that for the most part she lived, studied and worked in Europe, in particular Demark. I first saw her on film in the 1935 movie "A Midsummer Night's Dream" where she danced and acted the role of the fairie attending Titania. I also believe that she choreographed the dance scenes which I find to be enchanting. She then danced for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. I recently read a mini biography which stated that "Nini Theilade lives in Demark where she teaches at a university dance department." If she is still alive she would be 101 years old this June 15th. I would like very much to send her a congratulatory "fan" note. Tom, Link to comment
Helene Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Does the biography have a publisher listed? You may be able to contact her through them. Link to comment
Tom47 Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 Helene, thanks for replying. The mini biography I mentioned was just a paragraph for a 2005 film "Ballets Russes." I briefly looked for a way to contact someone, but couldn't find any - the same for the IMBd information. About 9 months ago I found a Vimeo video which seems to have been connected with Nini and I left a comment, but did not receive any response, so I don't know what happened. Since I last posted here I found a webpage that was published on June 15, 2015. It seems to state (it is a translation from Danish) that Nini made it to her 100th birthday "And were it not for an unfortunate fall in 2013, she had still been sitting in front of young aspiring dancers and pounded his (sic) cane on the floor when she thought they made an effort." It also indicates that she was living in a "small nursing home" at that time. the article was written by Charlotte Nielsen so maybe my best bet is to try and contact her. I would also like to communicate with anyone who is knows about Nini Theilade. Tom, Link to comment
Helene Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 I thought you meant this bio originally published in Danish and translated by her son to English. It's an ebook, and appears to be about 30 pages: http://ninitheilade.com/ The sales page for the Danish version lists the publisher as "Art People/People's Press" https://riidr.com/forlag/artpeoplepeoplespress/ Link to the Danish version: https://riidr.com/ebog/nini-theilade_nini-theilade/ It was an "As told to" book, and the writer was Lone Kulhmann https://riidr.com/forfatter/lone-kuhlmann/ There's a Support email, and it's possible if you write to them, they might be able to put you in touch with Ms. Kulhmann: support@riidr.com Link to comment
Tom47 Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 Helene thank you very much. Tom, Link to comment
sandik Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Alas, the people I knew who would have been in contact with her are now gone -- let us know what you find out. Link to comment
Tom47 Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 Helene I was able to download the book "Dance Was Worth It All" which was the story of her life. It is very interesting and I have been reading it all day. Thank you again for the reference. Sandik thank you for responding. Tom, Link to comment
Tom47 Posted March 17, 2016 Author Share Posted March 17, 2016 Helene, I finished reading "Dance Was Worth It All" the story of Nini Theilade's life. It was very interesting particularly the parts about dancing. Tom, Link to comment
rg Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 Theilade is quoted in a short article in the current issue Dance International (summer 2016) concerning working with Salvatore Dali: "DALI DESIGNS BACCHANALE - A look back at 'the first paranoiac ballet'" by Karen Barr. Link to comment
Alexandra Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 In every online encyclopedia I could find (including two Danish ones) she is still listed as living. One of the Danish newspapers did a HUGE article about her on her 100th birthday, and there are at least two interviews with her (in 2011 and 2012) on youtube. Link to comment
Tom47 Posted July 14, 2016 Author Share Posted July 14, 2016 Alexandra and rg, thank you for your information. I am going to try and find the Dance International article and the youtube interviews. Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. Tom, Link to comment
rg Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 f.y.i. the current issue of DANCE INTERNATIONAL (Fall 2016) includes a sidebar about Theilade's 101st birthday, on June 15, on the page of a report from Copenhagen (by Anne-Marie Elmby). this is the youtube clip mentioned in the sidebar: Link to comment
KarenAG Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 Thank you, RG, this is so welcome. And so lovely. I'm struck by her humility! And I cannot ever forget her extraordinary performance and beauty in Reinhardt's Midsummer Night's Dream. Link to comment
Tom47 Posted August 26, 2016 Author Share Posted August 26, 2016 RG and Karen, thank you for the videos you posted. I am happy that Nini celebrated her 101st birthday – Wow! RG I have not been to find the Dance International articles either the Summer 2016 or the Fall 2016 ones. Can you link to them or does one have to subscribe. Tom, Link to comment
rg Posted August 26, 2016 Share Posted August 26, 2016 as far as i know, DI is not digitized or on-line. there is a website: danceinternational.org where you should find ways to contact the magazine and see about back issues, etc. good luck. Link to comment
Josette Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Wow! I only knew of Nini Theilade from her fascinating performance in A Midsummer Night's Dream and had often wondered about her. Thank you so much for these posts and video clips. Link to comment
Tom47 Posted August 27, 2016 Author Share Posted August 27, 2016 RG, I found a website for DI and while it I couldn't find the articles about Nini it did have articles that I would be interested in so thank you. Josette, I read the book "Dance Was Worth It All" the story of Nini Theilade's life. It was very interesting particularly the parts about dancing. Tom, Link to comment
rg Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 f.y.i. 1934 newsphoto of Nini Theliade Link to comment
Alexandra Posted September 20, 2016 Share Posted September 20, 2016 Thanks, RG. The photo is beautiful -- she's so charming! (I didn't know that, in addition to being a star at 14 she was a ballet mistress at 19). And I really appreciate the info on the back of the photo. I also had no idea she was the great grandaughter of the Sultan of Java! Link to comment
Tom47 Posted September 23, 2016 Author Share Posted September 23, 2016 RG, thank you. Tom, Link to comment
rg Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 two more newsphotos with their captions from the '30s. the one from '35 isn't upside down, btw, NT is posed that way. Link to comment
sandik Posted October 17, 2016 Share Posted October 17, 2016 Oh, I love the inverted pose! Link to comment
Tom47 Posted October 21, 2016 Author Share Posted October 21, 2016 RG, thank you for the pictures and the information. Tom, Link to comment
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