Deirdre Tarrant

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Deirdre Tarrant

CNZM
Deirdre Tarrant CNZM (cropped).jpg
Tarrant in 2013
Born
Deirdre Elizabeth Anne Tarrant

1946 (age 75–76)
OccupationChoreographer, contemporary dance teacher
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1971)​
RelativesBret McKenzie (son)

Deirdre Elizabeth Anne Tarrant CNZM (born 1946) is a New Zealand dancer, dance teacher and choreographer. She was the founding director of Footnote Dance and is principal of the Tarrant Dance Studios.[1][2]

Tarrant was born in 1946, the daughter of Alfred Edward Tarrant, a Wellington manufacturer.[3][4] She danced with the New Zealand Ballet Company while studying for a Bachelor of Arts degree at Victoria University of Wellington in 1967.[1][2]

Tarrant founded Footnote Dance in 1985. She led that company until 2012, when she handed over to Malia Johnston.[5] She has been a vocational examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance.[6] She is principal of the Tarrant Dance Studios.[1][2]

Awards and honours[]

Tarrant was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2000 New Year Honours for "services to dance and the community".[7] She was promoted to Companion in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours for "services to contemporary dance".[8]

In 2006 she was one of the first distinguished alumni to be appointed by the Victoria University of Wellington.[9]

Personal[]

Tarrant married actor Peter Leo McKenzie in 1971.[3] Their son Bret McKenzie is a comedian, actor, musician and producer, best known as one of musical comedy duo, Flight of the Conchords.[10]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Dance diva—Deirdre Tarrant". Victoria University of Wellington. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b c "Distinguished alumni". Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 13 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ a b "Tarrant, Deirdre Elizabeth Anne, 1946–". Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ "New Year Honours 1988" (PDF). New Zealand Legal Information Institute. 14 January 1988. Retrieved 13 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ "Footnote Dance announces new Director after 26 years". Creative New Zealand. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  6. ^ "2012 daCi/WDA Global Dance Summit". Ausdance. July 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "New Year Honours List 2000". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 1999. Retrieved 13 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2013". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Victoria's Distinguished Alumni Awards announced". Scoop. 24 August 2006. Retrieved 13 August 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "Giant leap for Bret McKenzie". Stuff. 3 March 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
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