Letter from the Artistic Chair
It is an honor and a pleasure to direct this inaugural performance presented by Indianapolis City Ballet. With this I have been given a unique opportunity to use my knowledge to assist in the development of a start-up operation. While the possibilities are virtually endless, there is a responsibility too that mandates assuring the highest standards of quality.
I call on my experiences as a dancer, choreographer, artistic director, school director and more to guide this effort confidently forward. In managing leading international companies, I crafted artistic programs and seasons, engaged dancers, choreographers, composers, designers and an entire roster of artistic support staff. As director for one of the world’s most ambitious and successful studio companies, I was responsible for finding and developing the next generation of dancers and choreographers. And in all my experiences, I created and supervised the education and outreach efforts that are so important to identifying and engaging the ballet artists and audiences of the future. I look forward to bringing these skills to Indianapolis.
The collapse of Ballet Internationale was not only devastating to its family of artists and supporters but also to the community. The emergence of Indianapolis City Ballet as a presenter, and ultimately as a producer, of ballet will return a vital art form to the respected and diverse array of arts already present in the City.
The first performance presented by Indianapolis City Ballet on September 12, 2009, will unveil a stunning array of classical and contemporary ballet repertoire performed by some of the finest guest artists in ballet today. From balletomanes to first-time audience members, this performance seeks to challenge your perspective, stir your emotions, and confirm the vital and exciting role that ballet in Indianapolis can have.
I am so pleased to work with Bob Hesse and Jane Fortune, who have a world of experience in promoting and supporting the arts, and I am grateful for their providing a foundation on which to create the future of ballet in Indianapolis.
Sincerely,
John Meehan
Artistic Chair
Indianapolis City Ballet
John Meehan- Biography
Australian born - John Meehan has been a member of the international dance world as a performer, teacher, choreographer, and an artistic director for the past 35 years.
John studied at The Australian Ballet School, joined The Australian Ballet in 1970, and was promoted to principal dancer in 1974. He joined American Ballet Theatre as principal dancer in 1977. He was also a frequent guest artist with New York City Ballet and the National Ballet of Canada and toured with Stars of World Ballet. A versatile dancer, John danced leading roles in all of the classics as well as contemporary works by many of the world’s leading choreographers. He has partnered many of the world’s great ballerinas including Dame Margot Fonteyn, Natalia Makarova, Merrill Ashley, Gelsey Kirkland, Cynthia Gregory, Karen Kain, and the Australian ballet stars Marilyn Rowe and Marilyn Jones.
John began choreographing early in his career. His ballets entered the repertoire of The Australian Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Washington Ballet, Metropolitan Opera Company, and Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
John was Artistic Director of Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet from 1990 to 1993, the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company from 1997 to 2006, and the Hong Kong Ballet from 2006 until 2009. He is now a professor of dance at Vassar College in New York.