Henny Murer

Henny Mürer was a pioneer in Norwegian stage dance, who tirelessly fought for the respect and opportunities for the art form. She was also a journalist and critic for the broadcast and newspaper media. She had a twin sister, Alice Mürer Siem, who was also a dancer and choreographer. Together with her sister, she studied at Rita Tori's Ballet School from 1938 to 1946. She debuted at the Chat Noir in 1946 and went to teach at the Royal Ballet School from 1946 to 1949. She was a soloist in the newly established Norwegian National Opera and Ballet from 1958 to 1965. She served as rector for the National Ballet School from 1979 to 1986. She was awarded the Music Critics' Prize in 1962 and the Order of St. Olav in 1988. She was known for her dramatic talent and her versatility in performing different roles, from contemporary to classical ballet. She was the first Norwegian to dance the roles of Aili in Birgit Cullberg's Månerenen and Giselle in the romantic ballet of the same name. She was also the first dancer ever to receive the Kritikerprisen and the first Norwegian leader of the Opera Ballet, as acting ballet director in 1966.