Janet Collins: To Dance is to Live!
Welcome to the site that will keep you informed on the recently completed documentary...
Find us on Facebook under "Janet Collins Film"
The upcoming documentary, Janet Collins: To Dance is to Live, will highlight the life and accomplishments of an exceptional, world class dancer whom, today, many have never heard of.
However, in 1951, New York's Metropolitan Opera would - for the first time - feature an African American dancer as prima ballerina with their company. Her name was Janet Collins.
Above photo of Janet Collins by Walter Owen
In addition to showing rare dance footage of Miss Collins, Janet Collins:To Dance is to Live will also enable you to hear from others, in the dance community, who were impacted by Miss Collins in some way. Those individuals will include:
Tex Hightower - a former friend of Miss Collins, and her dance partner at The Metropolitan Opera for two years. Mr. Hightower shares his insights on the unique and spellbinding dance skills of Miss Collins, as well as on her calm temperament when dealing with racism.
Photo by Werner J. Kuhn, Museum of the City of New York
Above Photo: Geoffrey Holder and
wife, dancer, Carmen de Lavallade inthe 1968 revival of House of Flowers.
Carla DeSola - friend and former student of Miss Collins who is also an acclaimed liturgical dancer.
DeSola is the founder of the Omega Dance and Omega West Dance Companies (www.omegawest.org).
Arthur Mitchell - Internationally known dancer who is the founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem (www.dancetheatreofharlem.org), and...
Carmen de Lavallade - the next African American prima ballerina at The Met (in 1956) - following in her cousin Janet's footsteps!
(click here to see Ms. De Lavallade today: (http://www.paradigm-nyc.org/)
