What did Janet Collins do?

What did Janet Collins do?

Janet Collins (March 7, 1917 – May 28, 2003) was an African American ballet dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She performed on Broadway, in films, and appeared frequently on television. She was among the pioneers of black ballet dancing, one of the few classically trained Black dancers of her generation.

What inspired Janet Collins dance?

Collins was also a talented visual artist, and her family encouraged her to forgo dance for painting which, at the time, offered more opportunities to blacks. She studied art at Los Angeles City College and the Los Angeles Art Center School.

What age did Janet Collins start dancing?

At age 15 she auditioned for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo but declined an offer when told she would have to disguise the fact that she was black. She first performed as a theatrical dancer in 1940 and had her first solo recital in New York City in 1949.

What ballet era did Janet Collins dance in?

Janet Collins broke color barriers in the 1950s when she became the first African American prima ballerina and one of the very few prominent black women in American classical ballet.

Who was Janet Collins and what did she do?

Janet Collins, (born March 7, 1917, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.—died May 28, 2003, Fort Worth, Texas), American ballet dancer and choreographer, acclaimed for the beauty of her dancing on the Broadway stage. Britannica Explores. 100 Women Trailblazers. Meet extraordinary women who dared to bring gender equality and other issues to the forefront.

Why did Janet Faye Collins go to college?

Ironically, Collin’s parents urged her to study painting rather than dance because at the time, art seemed to offer more opportunities to gifted African Americans than classical dance. Collins studied art on a scholarship at Los Angeles City College and later at the Los Angeles Art Center School.

Where did Janet Collins go to dance school?

Collins was born on March 17, 1917 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She and her family moved to Los Angeles, where Collins started taking private dance lessons at a Catholic community center. Collins continued her dance training with Carmelita Maracci, who was one of the few dance teachers during the time to accept black students.

When did Janet Collins join the Metropolitan Opera?

Janet Collins broke a color barrier on November 13, 1951 after her performance in a production of Aida. In 1952, a year after joining the corps de ballet, she became the first African American prima ballerina with the Metropolitan Opera. This marked the first time a black artist had joined the permanent company.