Lesley Collier
A Royal Ballet principal whose explosive jump and dramatic fire defined roles, later shaping future generations as a revered coach.
Born 1947 (age 79)·English ballerina and teacher of dance·Birthday: March 13·Baby Boomers
Biography
Lesley Collier brought a rare combination of technical precision and raw theatrical power to the Royal Ballet stage. Joining the company in 1965, she rose to principal in 1972, her career defined by a soaring jump and an intense dramatic presence. She was the definitive Firebird for a generation, her performance crackling with avian energy, and a poignant Juliet opposite Anthony Dowell. Collier possessed a unique musicality and attack that made her a favorite of choreographers like Kenneth MacMillan and Frederick Ashton. After retiring from performing in 1995, she seamlessly transitioned to the Royal Ballet School, where her exacting eye and deep understanding of the repertoire have made her an indispensable répétiteur, passing the torch of the company's style to dancers for decades.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Lesley was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lesley Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Lesley's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
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
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
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 40
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 50
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
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 79 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet for over two decades.
- Created the role of the Young Girl in Kenneth MacMillan's ballet 'Elite Syncopations'.
- Was celebrated for her interpretations of Titania in 'The Dream' and the title role in 'The Firebird'.
- Appointed a répétiteur for The Royal Ballet, coaching dancers in the core repertoire.
Did You Know?
She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award by the Royal Academy of Dance in 1999.
Collier originated a role in MacMillan's 'Valley of Shadows', a ballet that is now lost.
She frequently partnered with legendary dancer Anthony Dowell during her career.
“The technique must be so secure that you can forget about it and dance.”
