Janet Collins
She shattered the color barrier as the first Black prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera, redefining grace on the American stage.
1917–2003 (age 86)·American prima ballerina, choreographer and teacher·Birthday: March 7·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Janet Collins moved with a spiritual gravity that transformed American ballet. Born in New Orleans in 1917 and raised in Los Angeles, she faced doors firmly shut to Black dancers. Refusing to perform in blackface, she turned down a major company offer early on, a defining act of integrity. Her technical prowess, honed through relentless study, was unmatched—a fusion of classical ballet’s precision with a modern dancer’s expressive power. In 1951, she made history as the first African American prima ballerina contracted by the Metropolitan Opera, stunning audiences for two seasons with roles created specifically for her. Beyond performing, she was a sought-after choreographer for stage and television and a devoted teacher in New York City. Later in life, she embraced a contemplative path as a Benedictine oblate. Collins didn't just break a barrier; she expanded the very imagination of what a ballerina could be.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Janet was born in 1917, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Janet Was Born
The biggest hits of 1917
#1 Movie
Cleopatra
Janet's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1917Born
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Started school
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1930Became a teenager
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1933Could drive
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1935Could vote
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1938Turned 21
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1947Turned 30
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 40
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 50
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 60
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 70
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 80
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2003Died at 86
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Key Achievements
- Became the first African American prima ballerina to be contracted by the Metropolitan Opera in 1951.
- Peranced a starring role in the Broadway production of 'Cole Porter's 'Out of This World' in 1950.
- Featured as a solo dancer on early television programs like 'The Ed Sullivan Show' and 'The Bell Telephone Hour'.
- Served as a revered dance teacher at institutions like the School of American Ballet and Marymount Manhattan College.
Did You Know?
She was a vowed oblate of the Benedictine order, dedicating herself to a life of spiritual discipline.
She was a talented painter and often designed her own costumes.
She turned down a spot with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo because they required her to perform in whiteface.
Her cousin, Carmen de Lavallade, became a famous dancer and choreographer.
“I will not paint my face to dance for you.”
