Marilyn Jones

Marilyn Jones OBE (born Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia 17 February 1940 -) is an Australian dancer and teacher of dance. She has been described as "the greatest classical dancer Australia has produced". ^[1]

Training and Career

Jones studied at the Royal Ballet School in London and danced with the Royal Ballet from 1957-1958 before being invited to join the Australian Ballet in 1962. She danced with the Australian Ballet until 1978, when she took up the position of Artistic Director of the company from 1979-1982. In 1991, Jones founded the Australian Institute of Classical Dance and became its artistic director. Other appointments have included director of the National Theatre Youth Ballet from 1996-1998 and Director of the National Theatre Ballet School, Melbourne, from 1995-1998. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 1 January 1972 for her services to Australian ballet.

Marriage and family

In 1963, Jones married fellow principal dancer, Garth Welch and they had two sons, Stanton Welch and Damien Welch, who both became dancers. Stanton has since become a cheorgrapher, and Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet. Damien is currently a principal artist with The Australian Ballet, and has a son Oscar with Kirsty Martin, fellow principal artist.

References

1. ^ Jones, Marilyn Fay - Australian Women Biographical entry

Books and articles

• Laughlin, Patricia Jean, Marilyn Jones, a brilliance all of her own, Quartet Books Australia, South Yarra, Victoria, 1978
• Kitcher, Barry, From gaolbird to lyrebird: a life in Australian ballet., Front Page, South Yarra, Victoria, 2001.
• Who's Who in Australia, 2001, p. 967
• A sense of purpose: great Australian women of the 20th century, pp. 112–13.

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Name	Jones, Marilyn
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Date of birth	17 February 1940
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