He studied at the Royal Danish Ballet School from 1918 and joined the company in 1928; promoted to principal in 1945.
He created roles in George Balanchine Legend of Joseph (1931) and in numerous ballets by Lander, including Études (1948).
He also taught at the Royal Danish Ballet School in Copenhagen from 1942 and was a tireless teacher of the Bournonville style throughout Europe and America.
Brenaa made the more straightforward and ingenuous ballets dance across the stage with an infectious vitality.
During the periods in which Hans Brenaa was absent from the theatre, Kirsten Ralov was the custodian of the Bournonville tradition.