Changing of the Guard

Changing of the Guard

A Q&A with Ballet Pensacola’s New Artistic Director, Darren McIntyre

by Morgan Cole

As Ballet Pensacola prepares to enter its 2021–2022 season, the company is honored to welcome newly appointed artistic director Darren McIntyre. Originally from Australia, McIntyre has produced more than 30 original works and has restaged and coached several full-length traditional repertory ballets. He has toured extensively across the globe in places such as the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe and South America. Recognized by the American Guild of Musical Artists as an Artist of Extraordinary Ability, McIntyre is also the founder and artistic director of the Marianne McIntyre Memorial International Ballet Scholarship. McIntyre is excited to bring his artistic vision to Ballet Pensacola and the community and looks forward to his first season as artistic director.

Downtown Crowd had the chance to catch up with McIntyre during his first week on the job to learn a little more about his artistic vision for the future of Ballet Pensacola.

Darren McIntyre, Ballet Pensacola's new Artistic Director

photo by Jessica Kaminski

DTC: How long have you been involved with ballet and dance and when did you first become interested in dance and choreography?

DM: Originally from Glen Innes NSW- Australia, I spent most of my childhood growing up in Port Macquarie on the Mid North Coast and kind of always knew I wanted to be a professional dancer ever since I took my first dance class when I was 10 years old. I loved it from the very first day. It is hard to explain, but dance was me and I had to dance. It was like it chose me. I also had a huge passion for languages and was studying German at the time. After completing one year abroad in Germany through the STS International Exchange program (when I was 15 years old), I was selected to attend the internationally acclaimed Prix de Lausanne (1996), which is the world’s largest youth ballet competition, equivalent to the Olympics. There, I was approached by the late Gailene Stock CBE AM who invited me to audition for The Australian Ballet School (TABS). As per her suggestion, I successfully auditioned and moved to Melbourne to start my training with TABS (1997). Whilst at TABS I was honored to be the recipient of The Sir Robert Helpmann Bursary and The Dame Peggy Van Praagh Award for Choreography. I was also fortunate to perform in their productions of The Snow Queen (1997) and The Red Shoes (1998) by Petal Miller Ashmole as well as worked with The Australian Ballet Company in Natalia Makarova’s La Bayadere and Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote (1999). I graduated, receiving my Advanced Diploma of Dance in 1999.

As a professional dancer, choreographer and guest teacher, I have toured extensively throughout the United States, Australia, Asia, Canada, Europe, Mexico and South America, performing a wide range of both classical and contemporary works as a freelance artist with companies such as The National Ballet of Ireland, The Landestheater Detmold in Germany, Louisville Ballet in Kentucky, City Ballet of San Diego, Milwaukee Ballet and Ajkun Ballet Theatre in New York City.

I also love theatre and recently was a street performer with New York City’s Experience, The Ride and was honored to be featured as an original cast member in the world premiere and the first Australian Tour of the new Australian hit production, BANJO (in the role of Banjo Paterson).

DTC: What made you decide to become an artistic director after spending so many years as an awardwinning dancer and choreographer?

DM: Having been an artist myself for most of my lifetime, I regard dance as a transient mode of expression, a language of its own, one with infinite progression and purpose. It is incredibly inspiring to be a part of a creative world and industry that is consistently bringing positivity, imagination and edifying values to the forefront of our society. I am very enthusi- astic about my chosen career and dance embodies a large quantity of who I am as an individual.

During my career, thus far, I have been fortunate to experience directing two companies here in the USA, Montgomery Ballet and Lake Erie Ballet. I have served as assistant to the Artistic Directors of another company in New York City, Ajkun Ballet Theatre and most recently I held the position of Artistic Associate & Ballet Master at Fort Wayne Ballet in Indiana.

The knowledge attained during these interim positions and throughout my career is invaluable; however, the most important quality I built during this time was the ignition of my passion for being in the performing arts industry. I love how dance can open a dialogue for people of all walks of life, creating a platform of entertainment, statements and education. The synergy of art and life that makes our world a better place, is a philosophy I share wholeheartedly and an inspiration I bring fully to my work.

Warm up class with Classical Ballet of Colorado before Giselle.

Photo by Sean Slavin

DTC: What made you decide to pursue the artistic director position at Ballet Pensacola and did you have any previous ties to the company as a performer or choreographer?

DM: I didn’t really have any prior affiliations with Ballet Pensacola before this recent appointment as artistic director. During Covid lockdown, I had made the difficult decision that I would step back from performing as I was struggling to maintain keeping in shape. It had been a year since I performed, and I just knew it was time to think about retiring. One day a good friend and former Ballet coach of mine in New York City called me, as he knew I had decided to seek opportunities such as artistic staff positions and had been sending out my materials and interviewing in various places. He informed me that one of the principal dancers from a professional company in Florida had reached out to him to ask if he knew anyone who might be interested in applying for the artistic director position. I knew that quite a few of my colleagues had already submitted for Ballet Pensacola and so I thought, why not? I have nothing to lose, so I sent my materials in for consideration. I then went through several interview processes with written proposals, Zoom meetings and various interviews, which took place over a couple of months—given that there was a lot of interest in the position and the candidate pool was quite large.

In May, I received a phone call and the invitation to fly to Pensacola for an in-person interview as one of the final three candidates for the position. I was at that time, contemplating several offers and opportunities that I had received but decided to take the invitation. Once

I got to Pensacola, I immediately fell in love with the city and was totally feeling the community vibe. I also realized the incredible opportunity that Ballet Pensacola could offer me to execute my artistic vision. I was ecstatic to find out the following month, on June 10 to be exact, that I was being offered the position and immediately decided to accept as I knew it was the right fit for me as well as the right fit for them.

DTC: As the new artistic director, what are some of your biggest goals and priorities?

DM: Cultivating an interest in the arts and promoting dance and physical movement as a creative outlet can definitely enrich the lives of our community, captivating imaginations and developing a deeper understanding of the arts. I believe dance should be accessible and affordable to everyone, all year-round, because it’s our responsibility to keep ballet, and all of the arts, as vital components of our community. I have already mapped out my three-season plan for Ballet Pensacola and have some exciting productions planned, including some of my performed productions I have done. I also have some exciting world premieres in the works. Stay tuned for this coming season’s exciting line up.

photo by Patrick Trautfield

DTC: Is there anything you would like to share about what we can expect for the upcoming season?

DM: We have a lot in store for our 2021– 2022 season. On Halloween, Ballet Pensacola will debut the premier of my original production of Dracula inspired by Bram Stoker’s original fable. This haunting and legendary tale is sure to spookily delight your taste and ballet bite as we travel from Transylvania to London in a pursuit of chaotic seduction, lust and frightful encounters.

In addition, Ballet Pensacola will celebrate the holiday spirit with performances of the beloved classic, The Nutcracker. As for Spring 2022 performances, Ballet Pensacola will present the colorful, iconic tale of The Wizard of Oz.

For more on artistic director Darren McIntyre and Ballet Pensacola’s 2021– 2022 season, visit balletpensacola.org.