Maxwell Collis
Maxwell Collis
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Maxwell Collis studied classical ballet with Xenia Borovanski and joined the original Borovansky Company as a soloist. In 1946, as Principal male dancer of the Victorian Ballet Guild he assisted Laurel Martyn in the development of the company which was to become Ballet Victoria. He toured Victoria and New South Wales with the National Theatre Ballet Company before making the decision to travel overseas to further his knowledge of teaching and choreographic styles. He joined Ballet Rambert as a principal dancer. |  |
| In the mid 50's he returned
to Australia, settling in Adelaide where he opened a ballet school and
formed the S.A. Ballet Theatre. Max was the Artistic Director of the South
Australian Ballet Theatre which was the early foundation company in the
1950's of ballet in South Australia.
Max returned to Melbourne in 1961 and taught and produced ballets for Ballet Victoria for the next 8 years, dogged with ill health. Max was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1978. He returned to Adelaide in 1995 and actively encouraged Sandy Whitelaw to form a company to produce classical ballets. Max believed that talent should be encouraged and nurtured and that apostolic succession has to be maintained. His death in January 1996 leaves an emptiness in many people's hearts. Maxwell had a dream to foster young talent and it is this dream which is the inspiration behind the Maxwell Collis Ballet Theatre. |
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