Biography
Danish dancer and artistic director Johan Kobborg is a former Principal of The Royal Ballet. He joined The Royal Ballet in 1999 as a Principal and retired in 2013. He danced all the major Principal roles with the Company and created roles in many new ballets, as well as choreographing himself, his works for the Company including a staging of Bournonville’s La Sylphide.
Kobborg was born in Copenhagen and came relatively late to ballet, studying first as a tenor. He trained at the Funen Ballet Academy and at the age of 16 was admitted to the Royal Danish Ballet School. In 1991 he graduated into the Royal Danish Ballet and was promoted to principal in 1994, following his role debut as James (La Sylphide). Awards include gold medals at the 1993 Erik Bruhn Competition, the 1994 Nureyev International Ballet Competition and the 1994 USA International Ballet Competition, as well as the 2004 Positano Award.
At the Royal Ballet Kobborg formed a renowned dance partnership with former Royal Ballet Principal Alina Cojocaru. Their last performance with the Company was in Mayerling on 5 June 2013, on Kobborg's 41st birthday. As guest artists Kobborg and Cojocaru appear regularly with American Ballet Theatre and the Mariinsky, as well as the Bolshoi, La Scala, Milan, National Ballet of Canada and Stuttgart Ballet, among many others. Kobborg is currently Director of National Romanian Ballet.
Videos
News and features
International ballet stars to perform at Ann Maguire Gala on 22 March 2015
Evening of world class dance to honour the life of Ann Maguire and celebrate her legacy.
Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg to leave The Royal Ballet at the end of 2012/13 season
Principals' final performance at Covent Garden in Mayerling on 5 June.
Alina Cojocaru wins Benois de la Danse award
Award in recognition of performances with Hamburg Ballet.
The Royal Ballet in Portraits
Fashion designer Paul Smith unveils Royal Ballet portraits.
Photos
Johan Kobborg as Crown Prince Rudolf in Mayerling
Johan Kobborg as Crown Prince Rudolf and Alina Cojocaru as Mary Vetsera in Mayerling
Roberta Marquez and Johan Kobborg in Symphony In C
Johan Kobborg as the Rake in The Rake's Progress
Johan Kobborg as Walter Sickert and Alina Cojocaru as Mary-Jane Kelly in Sweet Violets
Johan Kobborg as Crown Prince Rudolf and Alina Cojocaru as Mary Vetsera in Mayerling
Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg in Romeo and Juliet
Johan Kobborg as the Rake in The Rake's Progress
Johan Kobborg as Walter Sickert, Steven McRae as Jack in Sweet Violets
Johan Kobborg as Walter Sickert, Alina Cojocaru as Mary-Jane Kelly in Sweet Violets
Johan Kobborg in La Fille mal gardée, The Royal Ballet
Johan Kobborg
Johan Kobborg as Crown Prince Rudolf in Mayerling
Johan Kobborg as Crown Prince Rudolf and Alina Cojocaru as Mary Vetsera in Mayerling
Johan Kobborg as Crown Prince Rudolf in Mayerling
Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg in Giselle
Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg in Romeo and Juliet
Johan Kobborg as the Rake in The Rake's Progress
Alina Cojocaru as Princess Aurora and Johan Kobborg as Prince Florimund in The Sleeping Beauty
Johan Kobborg as Crown Prince Rudolf and Alina Cojocaru as Mary Vetsera in Mayerling
Alina Cojocaru as Mary Vetsera and Johan Kobborg as Crown Prince Rudolf in Mayerling
Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg at the curtain call for Mayerling
Alina Cojocaru and Johan Kobborg in Dances at a Gathering.
