Collins, Harold (1942 - )

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

Research Materials | Other Resources

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

Interview with Harold Collins, 1986; 1991 (Oral history)

Interviewee: Collins, Harold

Interviewer: Bill Stephens

Audiotape, 300 mins

In this interview recorded in two parts, Harold Collins speaks at length about his directorship of the Queensland Ballet including his appointment, the company's repertoire and the works he has choreographed himself. He also discusses his family background and childhood his career as a dancer outside Australia and in Queensland. Some of the artists he refers to in the course of the interview are Charles Lisner, Graeme Murphy, Walter Gore and Harry Haythorne.

Queensland Ballet, The ; Lisner, Charles ; Murphy, Graeme ; Gore, Walter ; Haythorne, Harry

Location:

National Library of Australia

TRC 2048
nla.cat-vn2220244

Newspaper Clippings, Queensland Ballet, 1979 (Ephemera)

The National Library's collection of biographical cuttings contains a small, random selection of clippings relating to artists with connections to the Queensland Ballet. Clipping files exist for Harold Collins, Bill Haycock, Harry Haythorne, Charles Lisner and Mary McKendry.

Queensland Ballet, The ; Lisner, Charles ; Haythorne, Harry

Location:

National Library of Australia

Biographical clippings(Access through Petherick Room)

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Other resources

Find more about Collins, Harold in:

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