Valerie Ann Deakin is a New Zealand dancer, choreographer and dance teacher. Deakin danced, choreographed and taught in the UK, Turkey and the US before returning to New Zealand. She established a dance school and theatre trust in
Taranaki, which celebrated their fiftieth anniversary in 2022. In 1993 Deakin was awarded a
New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal. In 2024 she was appointed an Officer of the
New Zealand Order of Merit for services to dance.
Early life and education
Deakin was born in
New Plymouth
New Plymouth () is the major city of the Taranaki region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after the English city of Plymouth, in Devon, from where the first English settlers to New Plymouth migrated. The New Pl ...
, and attended dance classes as a four year old in New Plymouth, and later moved to Wellington.
She trained at the
Arts Education Schools in London, and also gained a scholarship to attend the
Royal Ballet School.
International career
Deakin danced with the
Royal Ballet and in
Ankara
Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and List of national capitals by area, the largest capital by area in the world. Located in the Central Anatolia Region, central part of Anatolia, the city has a population of 5,290,822 in its urban center ( ...
in Turkey.
An invitation to perform in the US led to Deakin setting up a dance company in
Washington D.C.
Deakin performed, taught and choreographed for the
National Ballet in Washington, Maryland Ballet, and Manhattan Festival Ballet.
New Zealand career
Returning to New Zealand in 1972, Deakin founded the a dance school, teaching ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance.
The following year she established the Val Deakin Dance Theatre Trust, to present dance performances and conduct dance education across Taranaki and nationally.
In 2023 the Val Deakin Dance Theatre Trust celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.
Deakin retired as a teacher in 2022, aged 87.
Honours and awards
In 1993 Deakin was awarded a New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal. The medals were awarded to people who had made a significant contribution to women's rights or women's issues in New Zealand. Deakin had written a ballet, ''Steps in Time'', which celebrated the centennial of women's suffrage, and dance pioneers.
In 2018 she wrote ''Just in Time'' for the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage, using parts of ''Steps in Time'', and covering both suffrage and the impacts of World War II on New Zealand women.
In the
2024 New Year Honours Deakin was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to dance.
References
External links
*
The Wizard of Oz Ballet - Val Deakin Dance Theatre 2022'' Dec 2022, via YouTube
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New Zealand ballet dancers
New Zealand choreographers
New Zealand dance teachers
People educated at the Royal Ballet School
People educated at the Arts Educational Schools
Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit
People from New Plymouth
Recipients of the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people