In the three years Haagensen had been away, the dance scene that met him in Oslo had gone from a small group of pioneers to a rapidly expanding, nationally funded, performing art. In the interim years, from 1955 until 1957, Henry broadened his experience, initially working back stage as a theater painter, then in short term contracts as a dancer and actor. He danced in Svanesjøen (Swan Lake, 1956), a 2. Act ballet with instruction by Mary Skeaping, the ballet director at Stockholmoperaen and artistic director of Den Norske Ballett from 1956.
He danced in «Medea» in the role of Creon with Jorunn Kirkenær as Glause and choreography by Birgit Cullberg, 1st March, 1956 at Det Nationale Teatret (National Theatre). He also performed in musicals including Annie Get Your Gun, in the 1956 production at Det Norske Teateret with Torhild Lind in the main role. He also performed in musicals including Annie Get Your Gun, in the 1956 production at Det Norske Teateret with Torhild Lind in the main role.
Source: Oslo Museum
Henry worked as a choreographer and dancer in Bjørn Sand and Einar Schankes revue Ferske Fjes (Fresh Faces) in 1957 at Det Norske Teatret. This was Harald Heidie-Steen jnr’s debut. Henry also travelled to Germany and England to further his study of dance pedagogy. There was no institute for teacher training for aspiring dance teachers until the Statens Balletthøgskole (State Ballet School) was established in 1979. During these years Henry laid down the foundations for a future as a dance teacher, choreographer and theatre painter.
Later, when Henry reflected over the wisdom of his choice to return to Narvik and restart his ballet school in 1957, he said that it was wise choice, because theatre productions were becoming so complex with “50 technicians backstage to 20 actors”. When interviewed by Rolf Riktor from Norwegian TV (NRK) in Falkeklubben March 1970 , Henry was asked if he preferred running a ballet school to dancing professionally. Without hesitating, Henry replied teaching dance.
During Haagensens three years in Oslo, Narvik Revyamatører continued for a while, giving shows in 1955, based on Henry’s guidelines. Haugseth from Target School of Dancing offered instruction in “modern dance” for youth early 1955 at Wivel Hotel (Narvik Hotel). However this seems to be a short lived sporadic activity where Haugseth ran a weekend course as part of a tour of Norway.
Sources
Mikalsen, K. (1978, 12 16). Ballett-trinn gjennom 25år med Henry Haagensen. Fremover, ss. 16-17.
Norwegian TV (NRK) in Falkeklubben March 1970
This page is written by Fiona Jane Ellingsen and based on extensive research in local Narvik newspapers, films on NRK, Henry Haagensens personal archives and research in works about dance in Norway.
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Cover photo is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 license. Credit: (see original file).
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