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Toni Lander

1931 – 1985

Danish ballerina

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About Toni Lander

Lived 1931 – 1985 (aged 53). Toni Lander was a Danish dancer, choreographer, ballet dancer and dance teacher.

Toni Lander née Pihl Petersen (1931–1985) was a Danish ballerina who specialized in the ballets of August Bournonville. After becoming a solo dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet in 1950, she was a guest dancer with the Original Ballet Russe in 1951. She was then engaged by the Paris Opera Ballet until 1954. Lander also appeared with the London Festival Ballet in the late 1950s and with the American Ballet Theatre in the 1960s. After a few years back in Denmark in the early 1970s, in 1976 she joined the Ballet West in Salt Lake City. After a short illness, she died there of cancer in May 1985.

Early life Born in Gentofte on 19 June 1931, Toni Pihl Petersen was the daughter of Knud Åge Carl Pihl Petersen (1905–1972) and Agnes Margrethe Andersen (1907–1950). While with the Ballet West, she presented Études at the Paris Opera, Budapest Opera and the National Ballet of Amsterdam. In 1983, she had divorced Marks and was ready to accept an invitation to become the first female artistic director for the Royal Danish Ballet. She was prevented from doing so by a rapidly developing cancer which led to her death in Salt Lake City on 19 May 1985, aged only 53.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Awards
Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog
Also known as
Toni Marks, Pihl Petersen

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Toni Lander's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Toni Lander?

Danish ballerina (1931–1985)

When was Toni Lander born?

Toni Lander was born on 19 June 1931 in Gentofte.

When did Toni Lander die?

Toni Lander died on 19 May 1985 in Salt Lake City.

What was Toni Lander's occupation?

Toni Lander was a dancer, choreographer, ballet dancer and dance teacher.

What nationality was Toni Lander?

Toni Lander was Danish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Toni Lander

· Wikidata: Q21857933

· DBpedia: Toni Lander

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Toni Lander. https://biography.guide/toni-lander/

MLA: "Toni Lander." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/toni-lander/.

Chicago: "Toni Lander." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/toni-lander/.

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