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

ballet dancer A ballet dancer ( it, ballerina fem.; ''ballerino'' masc.) is a person who practices the art of classical ballet. Both females and males can practice ballet; however, dancers have a strict hierarchy and strict gender roles. They rely on ye ...

, 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 Scottish ...

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 southeastern Essex, England. It lies on the north ...

, Essex, England. He worked as a photographer's assistant then joined

The Royal Ballet School The Royal Ballet School is a British school of classical ballet training founded in 1926 by the Anglo-Irish ballerina and choreographer Ninette de Valois. The school's aim is to train and educate outstanding classical ballet dancers, especially ...

, 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 ''Tales of Beatrix Potter'' (as

Mr. Jeremy Fisher ''The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher'' is a children's book, written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter. It was published by Frederick Warne & Co. in July 1906. Jeremy's origin lies in a letter she wrote to a child in 1893. She revised it in 1906, and ...

), ''The Slipper and The Rose'', and as Drosselmeyer in ''

The Nutcracker ''The Nutcracker'' ( rus, Щелкунчик, Shchelkunchik, links=no ) is an 1892 two-act ballet (""; russian: балет-феерия, link=no, ), originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaiko ...

''. 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'' which premiered on 7 October 1974 in Covent Garden. Coleman first appeared with The English National Ballet in 1995 as a Guest Artist and continues to work with them in character roles in the UK and abroad. He danced 'The Husband' in

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 contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(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 various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as p ...

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