Meryl Tankard [SEP] place of birth
Meryl Tankard
Meryl Tankard AO (born 1955, Darwin, Northern Territory) is an Australian dancer and choreographer who has a wide national and international reputation.
Early life.
Tankard's father served in the Royal Australian Air Force and the family moved to various bases during her early years. She was born in Darwin, but had her first dance lessons in Melbourne. Several years later the family moved to Penang, Malaysia and was influenced by Malaysia's colour and ceremony. Later, living near Newcastle, New South
, Artistic Directors were: 1977-85 Jonathan Taylor (former dancer Ballet Rambert, UK), 1986-87 jointly Anthony Steel of the Adelaide Festival of Arts and ADT dancer Lenny Westerdijk, 1987-93 Leigh Warren (now with Leigh Warren & Dancers), 1993-99 Meryl Tankard during which time the company was known as the "Meryl Tankard Australian Dance Theatre". Meryl Tankard left after disputes with the Board, Bill Pengelly was interim Artistic Director until the current Artistic Director, Garry Stewart began in 1999.