{{Short description|New Zealand dancer, choreographer and teacher (1935–2025)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Val Deakin | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM|size=100%}} | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = {{#statements:P18}} | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date|1935|12|27|df=yes}} | birth_place = New Plymouth, New Zealand | death_date = {{death date and age|2025|05|25|1935|12|27|df=yes}} | death_place = New Plymouth, New Zealand | other_names = | citizenship = | nationality = | fields = | patrons = | alma_mater = {{#statements:P69}} | notable_students = | known_for = | author_abbrev_bot = | author_abbrev_zoo = | influences = | influenced = | awards = {{#statements:P166}} | signature = <!--(filename only)--> | signature_alt = | website = <!-- {{URL|www.example.com}} --> | footnotes = | spouse = | children = }}
'''Valerie Ann Deakin''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM}} (27 December 1935 – 23 May 2025) was 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.
Deakin died at a care home in New Plymouth, on 25 May 2025, at the age of 89.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Obituaries |url=https://wabraham.co.nz/obituaries/ |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=Abrahams Funeral Home |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Deakin was born in New Plymouth,<ref>{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} Val Deakin Dance Theatre |url=https://valdeakindance.org.nz/?page_id=732 |access-date=2024-11-07 |language=en-AU}}</ref> and attended dance classes as a four year old in New Plymouth, and later moved to Wellington.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Harvey |first=Helen |date=23 May 2023 |title=The Taranaki dancer with a cupboard full of 'right feet' |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/132107637/the-taranaki-dancer-with-a-cupboard-full-of-right-feet |access-date=6 Nov 2024 |work=Stuff}}</ref> She trained at the Arts Education Schools in London, and also gained a scholarship to attend the Royal Ballet School.<ref name=":1" />
== International career == Deakin danced with the Royal Ballet and in Ankara in Turkey.<ref name=":1" /> An invitation to perform in the US led to Deakin setting up a dance company in Washington D.C.<ref name=":1" /> Deakin performed, taught and choreographed for the National Ballet in Washington, Maryland Ballet, and Manhattan Festival Ballet.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Werth |first=David |title=Maryland Ballet - Val Deakin's "Touch and Go" |url=https://www.photographybydavidwerth.com/performances |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=Photography by David Werth |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Shennan |first=Jennifer |title=Ballet - Expansion and security, 1980s to 2000s |date=22 Oct 2014 |encyclopedia=Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |url=https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/43144/val-deakin-dance-theatre |access-date=2024-11-06 |language=en}}</ref>
==New Zealand career== Returning to New Zealand in 1972, Deakin founded the a dance school, teaching ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> The following year she established the Val Deakin Dance Theatre Trust, to present dance performances and conduct dance education across Taranaki and nationally.<ref name=":1" /> In 2023 the Val Deakin Dance Theatre Trust celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Michelle |date=2 October 2024 |title=Cafe connections traverses genres and time |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350436402/cafe-connections-traverses-genres-and-time |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=The Post www.thepost.co.nz}}</ref> Deakin retired as a teacher in 2022, aged 87.<ref name=":1" />
== 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-26 |title=The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 - Register of recipients {{!}} Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/new-zealand-royal-honours-system/types-new-zealand-royal-honours/other-distinctive-new-zealand-honours/suffrage-medal-register |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.dpmc.govt.nz |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boult |first=Kris |date=28 October 2018 |title=Ballet commemorates 125 years of women's suffrage |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/108171929/ballet-commemorates-125-years-of-womens-suffrage?rm=a |access-date=7 Nov 2024 |work=Stuff}}</ref>
In the 2024 New Year Honours Deakin was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to dance.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-12-30 |title=New Year Honours List 2024 - Citations for Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit {{!}} Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/ny2024-onzm |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.dpmc.govt.nz |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMYrd4icn38 The Wizard of Oz Ballet - Val Deakin Dance Theatre 2022],'' Dec 2022, via YouTube {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deakin, Valerie}} Category:1935 births Category:2025 deaths Category:New Zealand ballet dancers Category:New Zealand choreographers Category:New Zealand dance teachers Category:People educated at the Royal Ballet School Category:People educated at the Arts Educational Schools Category:Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit Category:People from New Plymouth Category:Recipients of the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993