Australia Dancing - Meehan, John (1950

Meehan, John (1950 - )

Stringer, Walter: John Meehan in the Australian Ballet production of 'Onegin', 1977

Born in Brisbane, John Meehan studied at the Australian Ballet School and joined the Australian Ballet in 1970. He was promoted to soloist in 1972 and principal in 1974. With the Australian Ballet he created roles in Glen Tetley's Gemini in 1973, Robert Helpmann's Perisynthyon in 1974, John Butler's Night Encounter in 1975 and Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow also in 1975. In the 1970s he forged strong partnerships with Australian Ballet principals Marilyn Rowe and Marilyn Jones.

Meehan also began choreographing in Australia in the early 1970s. Although he had participated in an Australian Ballet choreographic workshop as early as 1971, his first major work was made in 1973 for a Ballet Australia choreographic seminar. This work, Lament, was set to Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. It was renamed Memory and performed by Ballet Victoria in 1974 and it also entered the repertoire of the Dance Company (NSW) and the Australian Ballet. Also in 1974 he created Night Episode to Benjamin Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings for a choreographic award held in Canberra, Ballet '74. Night Episode was awarded first place in this competition and was subsequently performed by the Australian Ballet.

Meehan left Australia in the late 1970s and danced with American Ballet Theatre between 1977 and 1980, returning in 1985 for further seasons. He was also a frequent guest with New York City Ballet and the National Ballet of Canada and toured with Stars of World Ballet in 1978. On Broadway he starred in Andrew Llyod Webber's Song and Dance and toured with this production to England and Australia

Meehan was artistic director of Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet from 1990 to 1993 and for that company produced a version of The Sleeping Beauty. He is currently artistic director of American Ballet Theatre Studio Company.

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Find more about Meehan, John in:

Internet - Google
Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection
Pictures - Picture Australia