Heidi Ryom

Heidi Ryom Kristensen (26 August 1955 – 5 October 2013) was a Danish ballerina and educator for the Royal Danish Ballet. She began dancing at the Royal Danish Ballet school and became an in 1972 before being made a corps dancer at the Royal Danish Ballet two years later. In 1982, Ryom was appointed principal solo dancer at the Royal Danish Theatre before retiring from her position as a solo dancer in 1997 and became a character dancer and educator. She was appointed Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog in 1988 and was promoted to Knight First Class of the Order of the Dannebrog eight years later.

Biography On 26 August 1955, Ryom was born Heidi Ryom Kristensen in Copenhagen. She was the daughter of the car dealer Kurt Kristensen and Jette Ryom. Ryom was educated at the Royal Danish Ballet school, In 1972, she became an aspirant, and graduated in 1974.

In 1980, Ryom played the part of the bespectacled Helena in A Midsummer Night's Dream and as Svanhilda in Coppélia by Hans Brenaa the following year. In late 2013, she was awarded the Ballettens Venners Hæderspris from Princess Benedikte of Denmark.

Personal life She was in a relationship with the film worker Ulrik Wivel from 1986 to 1992. Ryom was married to the ballet dancer Julian Ringdahl from 1995 to 1999. She was the mother of one child. On the afternoon of 5 October 2013, Ryom died of a sudden brain haemorrhage.

Analysis Debra Craine and Judith Mackrell described Ryom in The Oxford Dictionary of Dance as "a soubrette, with her petite build and speed, she matured into a poetically expressive performer". Alette Scavenius said in Ryom's Dansk kvindebiografisk leksikon entry that the dancer's career had no drama in it "and has largely followed the beaten path. This calm development from ballet child over the youthfully cheerful soubrette to the tragedy roles in Russian bravura style was due in equal parts to willpower, stubbornness and the right people's understanding of HR's talent at the right time."