Had Major Roles in Variety of Productions : Toni Lander, Ballet Dancer, Dies at 54

Toni Lander, a Denmark-born dancer known in this country primarily for her appearances with American Ballet Theater, died Sunday in Salt Lake City of lung cancer. She was 54.

Miss Lander became ill just before the February world premiere of “Abdallah,” an 1885 August Bournonville ballet she reconstructed, along with her former husband Bruce Marks, for Ballet West, the Salt Lake company where she was principal instructor.

The ballet was performed in Los Angeles last March.

Miss Lander, born in Copenhagen, received her dance training and general education at the school of the Royal Danish Ballet, from which she graduated in 1948. She was promoted to rank of soloist in 1950, and soon created her first leading role in “Etudes,” written by Harold Lander, her first husband. That role first brought her international praise for her skill.

In 1951 she left Denmark to perform with leading companies of the world, including the original Ballet Russes, where she was a guest ballerina during that company’s final season in 1951-52. She also was a principal dancer with Anton Dolin and Alicia Markova’s London Festival Ballet.

The statuesque ballerina was among the most versatile dancers of her time. With American Ballet Theatre, which she joined in 1960, she danced major roles in “Swan Lake,” “Miss Julie,” “Theme and Variations,” “La Sylphide,” “Coppelia,” and many others.

During her years with American Ballet she met and later married her partner, Ballet West artistic director Bruce Marks. They were divorced two years ago but maintained a professional relationship, a Ballet West spokesman said.

In 1966 she and Marks first appeared with Ballet West as guest artists, dancing leading roles in “The Nutcracker.” This initial association led to her being appointed principal instructor in 1976, a post she held at her death.

For the last several years, Miss Lander had conducted a three-week international August Bournonville seminar in Copenhagen, where in 1957 she was knighted by King Frederik IX of Denmark.

She also has staged many of the fellow Dane’s works for Ballet West. She and Marks purchased the 16-page ballet “Abdallah” at an auction for $150 in 1971. It was a “lost” ballet that had not been performed for 127 years.

Miss Lander is survived by three sons from her marriage to Marks.