News

With sadness, we announce that Colin Bourne Collins, Head of Dance Programmes and Programme Leader of our BA in Contemporary Dance programme, died on Friday 19 March. This news has affected the whole Trinity Laban community deeply, and the suddenness of this loss has come as a great shock.

Colin was an integral and highly valued colleague, giving a great deal to Trinity Laban over more than two decades. Colin has played a leading role in Trinity Laban’s dance programmes since 2007, designing and shaping curricula and commissioning performances, as well as managing and supporting a large team of Programme Leaders and Coordinators to deliver our degree programmes. Most notably, his leadership of our BA in Contemporary Dance has sustained its reputation as one of the leading contemporary dance programmes globally. Colin’s career at Trinity Laban (formerly Laban) began much earlier, when he joined the institution as Learning and Teaching Coordinator before leaving to become Vice Principal at Northern School of Contemporary Dance. His career in arts education began at Suffolk College as Senior Lecturer in Arts Management. A passionate advocate for dance education and performance, Colin was also a board member of Tavaziva Dance Company.

Principal Anthony Bowne comments –

“I am devastated by the loss of a committed and brilliant colleague. Colin has been a steadfast presence in our Faculty of Dance for many years, beloved by staff and students alike. He will remain known and loved for his dedication to supporting our students to grow as practitioners and artists, and for nurturing a generation of talent and leadership in contemporary dance.”

Sara Matthews, Director of Dance, comments –

“Colin was an exceptional colleague and a valued friend of so many of us at Trinity Laban. His humility, professionalism and unending support for students and staff will be greatly missed. I am proud to have worked with him and to have witnessed the great impact he had on our students, our training and on the dance industry at large.”

Our thoughts are with Colin’s husband John, and his family and friends at this time.

Tributes to Colin and letters of condolence can be sent to remembrance@trinitylaban.ac.uk.