Collins, Harold (1942 - )

Lynkushka, Angela: Portrait of Harold Collins, 1992 or 1993

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Born in Armidale, NSW, Harold Collins began his dance training with his mother, a former dancer with the Kirsova Ballet. Later his teachers included Avril Binzer and Charles Lisner and he was also a student for a time at the Royal Ballet School in London. He joined the Lisner Ballet in Brisbane in 1960 as a founding member. Between 1965 and 1974 Collins worked with ballet companies in the United States, Europe and England before returning to Australia to take up a position as a principal dancer with the Queensland Ballet. He was appointed artistic director of the Queensland Ballet from 1979 and served in that position until 1997.

As artistic director of the Queensland Ballet Collins set out to follow the policy established by his mentor, and the company's founder, Charles Lisner by encouraging choreographers to work within the classical medium. As a choreographer himself he produced many works for the Queensland Ballet including the full-length ballets Carmen (1980), Romeo and Juliet (1982) and Salome (1986). His Salome was also staged by the Finnish National Ballet in 1990. Collins currently directs the Queensland Youth Ballet and choreographs on a freelance basis for various companies and organisations.

See also: Kirsova Ballet ; Lisner, Charles ; Queensland Ballet, The

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Research Materials

Ephemera | Oral history | All

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Other resources

Find more about Collins, Harold in:

• Internet - Google
• Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
• Pictures - Picture Australia