Michael Bruce Coleman (born 10 June 1940) is a British

ballet dancer A ballet dancer is a person who practices the Art (skill), art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet. They rely on years of extensive training and proper technique to become a part of a professional ballet company. B ...

, a former dancer of

The Royal Ballet The Royal Ballet is a British internationally renowned classical ballet company, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, England. The largest of the five major ballet companies in Great Britain, the Royal Ballet was founded ...

and a character artist with the

English National Ballet English National Ballet is a classical ballet company founded by Dame Alicia Markova and Sir Anton Dolin as London Festival Ballet and based in London, England. Along with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet and Scott ...

Early life

Coleman, was born in

Southend-on-Sea Southend-on-Sea (), commonly referred to as Southend (), is a coastal city and unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in south-eastern Essex, England. It lies on the nor ...

, Essex, England. He worked as a photographer's assistant then joined The Royal Ballet School, aged 15 before joining The Royal Ballet touring company in 1959 and then The Royal Ballet at Covent Garden.

Career

Coleman's notable stage performances with The Royal Ballet included ''Romeo and Juliet'' (Mercutio), "The Concert" (Husband), ''Giselle'', (Hilarion), ''Cinderella'' (Ugly Sister), "Song of the Earth" (Death), "La Fille Mal Gardee" (Colas), "Manon" (Lescaut), "The Sleeping Beauty" (Bluebird), "The Firebird", "Symphonic Variations", "Concerto", "Dances at a Gathering", "Monotones". Coleman has also appeared in the televised performances of ''

The Tales of Beatrix Potter ''The Tales of Beatrix Potter'' (US title: ''Peter Rabbit and Tales of Beatrix Potter'') is a 1971 ballet film based on the children's stories of English author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. The film was directed by Reginald Mills, choreograph ...

'' (as Mr. Jeremy Fisher), ''The Slipper and The Rose'', and as Drosselmeyer in ''

The Nutcracker ''The Nutcracker'' (, ), Opus number, Op. 71, is an 1892 two-act classical ballet (conceived as a '; ) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, set on Christmas Eve at the foot of a Christmas tree in a child's imagination featuring a Nutcracker doll. Th ...

''. Coleman was also part of the original cast of

Kenneth Macmillan Sir Kenneth MacMillan (11 December 192929 October 1992) was a British ballet dancer and choreographer who was artistic director of the Royal Ballet in London between 1970 and 1977, and its principal choreographer from 1977 until his death. Ea ...

's ''

Elite Syncopations "Elite Syncopations" is a 1902 ragtime piano composition by American composer Scott Joplin, originally published in 1903 by John Stark & Son.Jerome Robbins Jerome Robbins (born Jerome Wilson Rabinowitz; October 11, 1918 – July 29, 1998) was an American dancer, choreographer, film director, theatre director and producer who worked in classical ballet, on stage, film, and television. Among his nu ...

' ''The Concert''., when the ballet was first staged at Covent Garden in a gala performance to celebrate the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Coleman was appointed

Member of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(MBE) in the

2022 Birthday Honours The 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 15 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to Orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms, various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those ...

for services to ballet.

References

British male ballet dancers 1940 births Living people The Royal Ballet English National Ballet dancers People from Southend-on-Sea 20th-century British ballet dancers Members of the Order of the British Empire {{UK-artist-stub