Deirdre Tarrant | |
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![]() Tarrant in 2013 | |
Born | Deirdre Elizabeth Anne Tarrant 1946 (age 77–78) |
Occupation(s) | Choreographer, contemporary dance teacher |
Spouse | |
Children | Bret McKenzie |
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]
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]
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]