Peter Brinson
Encyclopedia
Peter Neilson Brinson was a British writer and lecturer on dance. At various times he was a film-maker, writer, and academic, and did much to raise the profile of dance education in Britain and elsewhere.
on 6 March 1920, was educated at Denstone College
, Staffordshire
and then studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Keble College, Oxford
. He matriculated
at the University of Oxford
in 1938, but did not graduate until 1948, as he served in the Royal Artillery
during the Second World War, reaching the rank of captain; he was a tank commander with Montgomery at the Battle of El Alamein
. After leaving Oxford, he worked for the London Film Centre, writing film scripts and carrying out research. His involvement with ballet dated from his time at the Centre. In 1952, The Black Swan, which he wrote and produced and which starred Beryl Grey and John Field
from the Royal Ballet, was the first ballet film to use stereoscope.
He set up "Ballet for All" in 1964, a small touring group of the Royal Ballet, which performed widely across the country to introduce ballet to many people of all ages. He was also linked to the work of the London School of Contemporary Dance
, as his interests were wider than ballet. He went on to become director of the Royal Academy of Dancing (1968) and director of the UK and Commonwealth branch of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
, continuing his work in promoting the arts. He was also an academic at York University, Toronto and the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance
at Goldsmiths' College, London; his work also led to the foundation of the first chair of dance studies at a British university, at the University of Surrey
, from whom he reveived an honorary Doctorate of the University
in 1994. He has been credited as "playing a leading role in transforming the nature and status of dance education in Britain and many other parts of the world."
Brinson wrote for a number of publications about dance, and authored several books; he also wrote on the themes of art and public policy. He was a freelance writer for The Times
and for magazines specialising in dance from 1952 onwards, He co-authored The Choreographic Art (1963) with a future director of the Australian Ballet, Peggy van Praagh
. Other works included The Arts Britain Ignores (1980).
He developed myelofibrosis
, and after being diagnosed in 1988 he required numerous blood transfusions – although he made the most of the time these took, and used the time to read and write without interruptions. He died on 7 April 1995.
Life
Peter Neilson Brinson, who was born in LlandudnoLlandudno
Llandudno is a seaside resort and town in Conwy County Borough, Wales. In the 2001 UK census it had a population of 20,090 including that of Penrhyn Bay and Penrhynside, which are within the Llandudno Community...
on 6 March 1920, was educated at Denstone College
Denstone College
Denstone College is an independent, coeducational boarding school in Denstone,Staffordshire, England and a member school of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. It is also a Woodard school and as such has a strong Anglo-Catholic tradition. It has continued to show impressive academic...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
and then studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
. He matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1938, but did not graduate until 1948, as he served in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
during the Second World War, reaching the rank of captain; he was a tank commander with Montgomery at the Battle of El Alamein
Battle of El Alamein
There were two battles of El Alamein in World War II, both fought in 1942. The Battles occurred in Egypt in and around an area named after a railway stop called El Alamein at .* First Battle of El Alamein – 1–27 July 1942...
. After leaving Oxford, he worked for the London Film Centre, writing film scripts and carrying out research. His involvement with ballet dated from his time at the Centre. In 1952, The Black Swan, which he wrote and produced and which starred Beryl Grey and John Field
John Field (dancer)
John Field was an English ballet dancer, choreographer, director and teacher. He was a renowned member of the Vic-Wells Ballet and Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet and was also Artistic Director of the La Scala Theatre Ballet.- Biography :Born John Greenfield in Doncaster, South Yorkshire in 1921,...
from the Royal Ballet, was the first ballet film to use stereoscope.
He set up "Ballet for All" in 1964, a small touring group of the Royal Ballet, which performed widely across the country to introduce ballet to many people of all ages. He was also linked to the work of the London School of Contemporary Dance
London School of Contemporary Dance
London Contemporary Dance School is a contemporary dance school located in London, United Kingdom. LCDS was founded by Robin Howard in 1966 in order to train new dancers for his company, London Contemporary Dance Theatre....
, as his interests were wider than ballet. He went on to become director of the Royal Academy of Dancing (1968) and director of the UK and Commonwealth branch of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a Portuguese private foundation of public utility whose statutory aims are in the fields of arts, charity, education, and science...
, continuing his work in promoting the arts. He was also an academic at York University, Toronto and the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance
Laban Dance Centre
Laban in Deptford, south-east London, is a conservatoire and centre for contemporary dance, and includes 13 dance studios, a 300-seat theatre, dance health suite, Pilates studio, library and café...
at Goldsmiths' College, London; his work also led to the foundation of the first chair of dance studies at a British university, at the University of Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
, from whom he reveived an honorary Doctorate of the University
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
in 1994. He has been credited as "playing a leading role in transforming the nature and status of dance education in Britain and many other parts of the world."
Brinson wrote for a number of publications about dance, and authored several books; he also wrote on the themes of art and public policy. He was a freelance writer for The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
and for magazines specialising in dance from 1952 onwards, He co-authored The Choreographic Art (1963) with a future director of the Australian Ballet, Peggy van Praagh
Peggy van Praagh
Dame Margaret "Peggy" van Praagh, DBE had a long and distinguished career in ballet as a dancer, choreographer, teacher, producer, advocate and director.-Dancing:...
. Other works included The Arts Britain Ignores (1980).
He developed myelofibrosis
Myelofibrosis
Myelofibrosis, also known as myeloid metaplasia, chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis, osteomyelofibrosis and primary myelofibrosis is a disorder of the bone marrow...
, and after being diagnosed in 1988 he required numerous blood transfusions – although he made the most of the time these took, and used the time to read and write without interruptions. He died on 7 April 1995.