Cullberg, Birgit (1908–1999)

Swedish dancer, choreographer, and director. Born in Nyköping, Sweden, Aug 3, 1908; died Sept 8, 1999, in Stockholm; dau. of Ella W. Cullberg and Carl Cullberg (bank director); studied at Stockholm University; trained with Kurt Jooss at Jooss-Leeder School at Dartington Hall, England (1935–39); m. Anders Ek (actor), 1942 (sep. 1949, reconciled 1959, later div.); children: Niklas and Mats Ek (both dancers) and Malin Ek (actress and twin to Mats).

Following studies in choreography in England, returned to Sweden (1939) to learn ballet techniques from Lillian Karina and form her own dance group for commercial revues; initial ballets, especially Propaganda and Offensive, were known for their humor, satire, and behavioral studies; with Ivo Cramér, directed the Swedish Dance Theatre (1946–47); was a resident choreographer of the Royal Swedish Ballet (1952–59) and then served as director and choreographer of Stockholm City Theatre; appointed a member of the artistic council to the Royal Swedish Ballet, where she staged her Seven Deadly Sins (1963); dances were a frequent staple of Scandinavian companies as well as of the American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Chilean National Ballet, among others; choreographic works include Miss Julie (1950), Medea (1951), Moon Reindeer (1957), Odysseus (1959), The Lady from the Sea (1960), and the tv ballet "The Evil Queen" (1961), which won the Prix d'Italia, as well as Salome (1964), Romeo and Juliet (1969), Bellman (1971), Révolte (1973), Rapport (1976), Peer Gynt (1976), At the Edge of the Backwoods (1977), and Krigsdanser (1979). Awarded Swedish King's fellowship (1958) and the Order of Vasa (1961).