Really Interesting Women

The Podcast

Ep. 147 Meryl Tankard

Meryl Tankard is one of Australia's most distinguished and innovative figures in contemporary dance and choreography.

Her talent was recognised very early - and even at that early stage she knew the 'old school' teaching techniques were, at times, abhorrent. But despite this, her talent flourished. To the point where she auditioned and earned a place in the Australian Ballet.

But in her mind she wanted more. She joined the prestigious Pina Bausch Tanztheater Wuppertal in Germany, where she became a principal artist and developed her distinctive artistic voice.

Upon returning to Australia in the early 1990s, she served as Artistic Director of the Australian Dance Theatre (ADT) in Adelaide, transforming it into a globally recognised company. And that led inexplicably to a controversial move by the ADT that we talk about.

But it's her bold, theatrical productions that merged dance with other art forms that have impressed audiences the world over. Her choreographic style is characterised by emotional intensity, physical dynamism, and a unique blend of classical technique with contemporary expression.

She has created works for opera, film, and large-scale events, including contributions to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games ceremonies.

And as if for good measure she's a qualified and exceptional film maker.

To this day Meryl Tankard remains an influential force in Australian performing arts, celebrated for her passionate commitment to artistic innovation and her ability to create deeply moving dance experiences.

It was a great conversation with an enduring, warm, immensely talented artist.

You can see the clips I was referring to in our conversation at:

https://meryltankard.com/work

Head to the link in my bio to hear our conversation.

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