Lesley Collier (1947-). British ballerina, teacher and répétiteur

Lesley Collier was born in Orpington, Kent, in 1947. After study at The Royal Ballet School, she entered The Royal Ballet in 1965, becoming a principal in 1972. Over a long and distinguished career, in which she was particularly noted for her musicality, Collier danced the main ballerina roles throughout the repertoire. Frederick Ashton’s Rhapsody was choreographed around her partnership with Mikhail Baryshnikov. Collier retired from dancing in 1995 to become ballet mistress at The Royal Ballet School. In 2000 she returned to The Royal Ballet as répétiteur, where she coached principals and soloists. She received the Evening Standard Award for Ballet in 1987, and was appointed CBE in 1993.