{{short description|Finnish ballet dancer and cultural leader (1931–2018)}} {{Use British English|date=December 2022}}

{{Infobox dancer | honorific_prefix = ''Professori''<ref name="yle" /> | name = | honorific_suffix = ''Prima ballerina emerita''<ref name="yle" /> | image = Doris-Laine-1950s (cropped).jpg | alt = photograph of Doris Laine | caption = Doris Laine in the 1950s | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1931|10|31|df=yes}} | birth_place = Helsinki, Finland | death_date = {{death date and age|2018|12|15|1931|10|31|df=yes}} | death_place = Helsinki, Finland | nationality = | citizenship = | education = | occupation = | years_active = 1947-1997 | home_town = | height = | spouse = Alfons Almi | partner = | children = Heidi Almi (daughter) | website = <!-- {{URL|website}} --> | current_group = | former_groups = | dances = | module = }} '''Doris Laine''' (from 1952, '''Laine-Almi'''; 31 October 1931 — 15 December 2018)<ref name="yle18">{{cite news |title=Suomen kansallisbaletin entinen johtaja Doris Laine on kuollut |trans-title=Ex-Director of Finnish National Ballet Doris Laine has died |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10556633 |access-date=16 January 2021 |publisher=Yle |date=15 December 2018 |language=fi}}</ref><ref name="hs-ob" /> was an internationally recognised Finnish ballet dancer, dance choreographer and pedagog, who later held several prominent leadership positions in dance and the wider performing arts. She is regarded as one of the most influential people in Finnish dance.<ref name="kb" /><ref name="uv" />

==Career== ===Dance=== Laine trained at the ballet school of the Ballet of Finland (later to become the Finnish National Ballet), as well as studying at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts ('GITIS') and the Moscow State Academy of Choreography.<ref name="kko" /><ref name="uv" /> During and after her formal training, she made annual study visits to the USSR, France and the UK.<ref name="kko" />

Laine began her professional career in the Finnish National Ballet's ''corps de ballet'' in 1947, before being promoted to soloist in 1952, and to principal in 1956, which position she held for twenty years.<ref name="kko">{{cite book |title=Kuka Kukin On (Who's Who) |date=1978 |publisher=Otava |location=Helsinki |page=476 |url=https://runeberg.org/kuka/1978/0476.html |access-date=16 January 2021 |language=fi}}</ref><ref name="uv" />

thumb|right|Laine in 1966 From 1964 to 1966, Laine was attached to the Royal Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet) in London as principal dancer.<ref name="kko" />

During her career, Laine danced approximately 50 leading roles, and performed in 29 countries in Europe and the Americas, both in her own right and as part of the National Ballet's tours.<ref name="kb">{{cite web |title=Laine, Doris (1931 - 2018) |url=https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/1496 |publisher=National Biography of Finland |access-date=16 January 2021 |language=fi}}</ref><ref name="kko" />

She was especially known for her technical brilliance, virtuosity and sleight of hand.<ref name="hbl-ob" />

===Choreography=== Over the years, Laine choreographed numerous productions at the Finnish National Ballet.<ref name="kko" />

She was also visiting choreographer at the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet and the National Theatre in Belgrade, among others.<ref name="kko" />

===Leadership roles=== In 1985, Laine was appointed the Artistic Director of the Finnish National Ballet, where she served until 1992.<ref name="yle18" /> During her tenure, she broadened the company's repertoire by premiering several works by Finnish ballet composers.<ref name="kb" /> She is also known for having created opportunities for young, upcoming dancers.<ref name="kb" />

She founded the Helsinki International Ballet Competition, first held in 1984, which later became associated with the National Ballet.<ref name="ibc">{{cite web |title=The Founder, Doris Laine (1931–2018) |url=http://ibchelsinki.fi/competition/history/ |publisher=IBC Helsinki |access-date=16 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="hbl-ob" /><ref name="yle16" />

She was also the Artistic Director of ''{{ill|Kuopio tanssii ja soi|fi}}'', the oldest and largest dance festival in the Nordic region, from 1982 to 1992.<ref name="hbl-ob" />

From 1992 to 1995, Laine served as Director of Ballet at the Komische Oper Berlin Tanztheater in Germany.<ref name="ibc" /><ref name="uv">{{cite web |title=Laine, Doris |url=https://www.uppslagsverket.fi/sv/sok/view-103684-LaineDoris |website=Uppslagsverket.fi |access-date=16 January 2021 |language=sv}}</ref>

She judged notable ballet competitions, including Varna, Paris, Moscow and the USA IBC, more than 30 times.<ref name="ibc" /><ref name="uv" /><ref name="hbl-ob">{{cite news |title=Doris Laine vigde sitt liv åt dansen |url=https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/doris-laine-vigde-sitt-liv-at-dansen/ |access-date=16 January 2021 |publisher=Hufvudstadsbladet |date=17 December 2018 |language=sv}}</ref><ref name="yle16">{{cite news |title=Doris Laine - tahtonainen perusti Helsingin kansainvälisen balettikilpailun |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2016/05/10/doris-laine-tahtonainen-perusti-helsingin-kansainvalisen-balettikilpailun |access-date=16 January 2021 |publisher=Yle |date=10 May 2016 |language=fi}}</ref>

Laine served in board and committee roles at several Finnish artistic, culturo-political and labour market organisations, as well as internationally at the International Dance Council and International Theatre Institute of UNESCO, among others.<ref name="kb" /><ref name="uv" /><ref name="hs-ob">{{cite news |title=Doris Laine 1931–2018 |url=https://www.hs.fi/muistot/art-2000005935307.html |access-date=16 January 2021 |publisher=Helsingin Sanomat |date=18 December 2018 |language=fi}}</ref>

==Honours and awards== In 1957, Laine was awarded the ''{{ill|Pro Finlandia|fi}}'' medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland.<ref name="il" /><ref name="yle">{{cite news |title=Balettilegenda Doris Laine aloitti tanssin isän nahkatakista tehdyillä tossuilla |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2018/12/18/balettilegenda-doris-laine-aloitti-tanssin-isan-nahkatakista-tehdyilla |access-date=16 January 2021 |publisher=Yle |date=18 December 2018 |language=fi}}</ref>

In 1985, Laine received a grant from the Finnish Cultural Foundation in recognition of her artistic merits.<ref name="il">{{cite news |title=HS: Suomen kansallisbaletin suuri nimi Doris Laine on kuollut |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/viihdeuutiset/a/baa23077-2cf0-439e-9405-54c216b8e3d6 |access-date=16 January 2021 |publisher=Iltalehti |date=15 December 2018 |language=fi}}</ref>

In 1992, the honorary title of ''Professori'' was conferred on Laine by President Mauno Koivisto.<ref name="uv" /><ref name="il" />

==Personal life== Doris Laine was born to a working-class family in Helsinki. Her parents were Aleksander, a labourer, and Lydia Maria.<ref name="kko" />

She was married to the opera singer and Director-General of the Finnish National Opera, Alfons Almi, from 1952 until his death in 1991;<ref name="il" /> they had one daughter, Heidi (born 1956),<ref name="kko" /> who also danced ballet professionally, and now, like her parents before her,<ref name="seura">{{cite news |title=Aiotko tuoda jenkkisysteemin kulttuurialalle ja hävittää valtion tuet Heidi Almi? |url=https://seura.fi/viihde/julkkikset/aiotko-tuoda-jenkkisysteemin-kulttuurialalle-ja-havittaa-valtion-tuet-heidi-almi/ |access-date=17 January 2021 |publisher=Seura |date=28 September 2016 |language=fi}}</ref> works in a management role at the National Opera and Ballet.<ref name="yle" /><ref name="seura" />

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Portal|Finland}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Laine, Doris}} Category:Finnish ballerinas Category:Finnish choreographers Category:Finnish women choreographers Category:Moscow State Academy of Choreography alumni Category:1931 births Category:2018 deaths Category:Dancers from Helsinki Category:Ballet in Finland Category:Pro Finlandia Medals of the Order of the Lion of Finland