Études is a ballet by Danish dancer and choreographer Harald Lander

Harald Lander

Harald Lander is a Danish dancer, choreographer and artistic director of the Royal Danish Ballet.Lander started as a dancer, studying under ballet master Michel Fokine in 1926-27...

 with original score by Carl Czerny

Carl Czerny

Carl Czerny was an Austrian pianist, composer and teacher. He is best remembered today for his books of études for the piano. Czerny's music was profoundly influenced by his teachers, Muzio Clementi, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, Antonio Salieri and Ludwig van Beethoven.-Early life:Carl Czerny was born...

 and piano studies arranged by Knudåge Riisager

Knudåge Riisager

Knudåge Riisager was a Danish composer.Knudåge Riisager was born in Estonia of Danish parents. His father Emil Riisager was an engineer, and the family returned to Denmark in 1900 when Knudåge was three years old.- Notable works :*Ballet music**Benzin op. 17 **Cocktails-Party op...

. It is considered Lander's most famous choreographic work and brought him international fame.

Études is considered an homage to classical ballet training. It is a one-act ballet that begins with traditional ballet exercises at a barre and ends with spectacular bravura displays. It premiered on the 15th of January, 1948 at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen with the Royal Danish Ballet

Royal Danish Ballet

The Royal Danish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet companies in the world. Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, it originates from 1748, when the Royal Danish Theatre was founded, and was finally organized in 1771 in response to the great popularity of French and Italian styles of dance...

 with scenery and costumes by Rolf Gerard and lighting by Nananne Porcher.

The original cast included: Margot Lander

Margot Lander

Margot Ella Florentz Lander , a prima ballerina with the Royal Danish Ballet, was the most important Danish ballerina of the first half of the twentieth century....

, Hans Brenaa, Svend Erik Jensen, Inge Sand and Inge Goth. Its ABT

American Ballet Theatre

American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...

 premiere at the 54th Street Theatre in New York took place on the 5th of October, 1961 and featured dancers Toni Lander, Royes Fernandez, Bruce Marks, Eleanor D'Antuono and Elisabeth Carroll.

Sections

The order of the various sections of the ballet, as recorded by the Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky in 1997, include:



- Overture (exercises at the barre)

- Tendus, Grands battements, fondus and frappes

- Ronds de jambe

- Silhouetter-au milieu

- Adagio

- Port de Bras et pas de badin

- Mirror Dance

- Ensemble

- Romantic Pas de deux

- Sortie
- Conclusion

- Pirouettes

- Releves

- Piques et grands pirouettes

- Solo for the Prima Ballerina

- Coda

- Small Leaps

- Mazurka

- Tarantella

- Broad Leaps (Finale)