Janet Collins, born March 7, 1917 is an African-Americanballet dancer and a painter. She is from New Orleans, Louisianaand moved with her family to Los Angeles City Collegeand Los Angeles Art Center School.
Because she was such a skilled painter, she was
able to pay to relocate to New York and pursue
a career in ballet dancing. (It’s amazing to be able
to use your talent to get you where you want to go,
especially money-wise)
The year 1941,
she performed with the new and world renowned
Black dance troupe put together and directed
by Katherine Dunham.
By 15 years old, Collins made success
when she auditioned for the Ballet Russe
de Monte Carlo at the Philharmonic.
1949 was the year she made her New York
debut in a solo concert. By 1951, she became
the first Black Artist to perform on the stage of the
Metropolitan Opera House in New York. When
she starred in the 1951 production of Cole
Porter’s Out of this World, Collins won the
Donaldson Award. THat award represents that
she is the best dancer on Broadway. (Its great to have such
skill and even better to be the best dancer on Broadway.
I wonder how many people get that title. Well at least we
know she did.)
She continued with the MEt until the year 1954.
Later she toured the USA and Canada in solo dance concerts.
Janet taught at colleges and dance institutions in
New York as well as California. Then she retired and
resided in Seattle.
No comments:
Post a Comment