Darrel Toulon (AC 81-83) is currently Ballet Director of the Opera House in Graz (Austria), Artistic Director of the alpha group, and Dance Advisor for the Austrian Federal Arts Council.  Recipient of the second German Video Dance Prize 1998/99, and also the first Austrian Dance Production Prize for Outstanding Achievement in 2002. Dance Lecturer at the Music Theatre Department of the University of Arts in Graz in 2005/6.

 

Darrel’s first engagement as Dancer was with Tanz-Forum in Cologne, Germany, where he soon advanced to Soloist. Roles include Romeo in "Romeo and Juliet", Alwa in "Lulu", Garcia in "Carmen" and, as Guest with the Zurich Ballet - Joseph in "Joseph's Legend".  His career has evolved through different artistic phases, working as Dancer, Actor, Singer, Designer, Director and Choreographer for as diverse productions as Ballet, Modern Dance, German Tanztheater, Dance Video, Opera, Drama, Television and Film.

 

Darrel’s dance education began at Thamesdown Contemporary Dance Studios in Swindon, leading to a Scholarship placement at Central School of Ballet in London, under the Artistic Guidance of Christopher Gable.

 

“When I arrived at UWC, I was not a dancer.  I was hugely involved in amateur dramatics at home and even had my own small theatre group before leaving for UWC.  My parents had always frowned upon my extra curriculum activities; they were concerned that I was spending too much time on my drama group and not enough on my academic studies.  It is ironic to think that these were what gave my UWC application the edge over the other kids from my school.  I was excited that there was this school that was interested these other things!” recalls Darrel.

 

“I was thrilled to be able to choose Arts Centre Service as my community service activity.  It was through this that I got to know and understand people from the world of professional theatre. The Vale of Glamorgan Musical Festival was a yearly event and the St. Donat’s Arts Centre was heavily involved.  I remember one weekend close to Christmas in my first year when I travelled up to London to go to the theatre and I was blown away to realise that people did this for a living.  I had, until then found it really difficult to imagine that drama or dance could be your job, a career!

 

“Being exposed to a committed teaching staff who were not pressing you to follow an automatic path was liberating.  Back home in my community and particularly my parents, the arts were not considered to be a “serious, decent job”.  At UWC we quickly realised that there were other ways to do and see things.  It was during this time that I discovered the concept of ‘plurality of truths’.

 

“Throughout my UWC years, I was still following a traditional route and started applying to Universities to study molecular biology. My defining moment came whilst I was in the middle of a University interview.  I was really trying to convince the interviewer that I was his guy - the best person for this prized scholarship to go and study molecular biology when I heard a small voice in my head saying – ‘Darrel, you lie! This will not make you happy. Stop!’  I have increasingly come to rely on this voice inside; I appreciate its wisdom and strength.  I have learnt to follow it.

 

“Immediately after UWC, I completed a foundation course in dance which provided me access to the Central School of Ballet in London.  I started late – I was 19 years old standing in a classroom full of 16 year olds who had been dancing all their life.   But I knew I wanted to do it.  At Atlantic College I understood how vast a potential we carry with us. Without UWC and the guidance of the great teachers I met there, I would never have had my eyes and mind opened beyond pure academic achievement.

 

“With the acquired sense of community service, I have taken on the continued artistic direction of an annual gala for World Aid’s Day, supporting the efforts of the Styrian Aids Foundation.

 

“I have also gone on to develop quite a non-traditional style of dance and productions.  I have also created a very international ensemble at the Opera House, a very multicultural group of dancers, nothing like you would expect in such a Ballet Ensemble. My interpretations of traditional ballets such as The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet and Sleeping Beauty have received great and controversial acclaim.  Having gone through the two years at Atlantic College, impregnated with International Understanding and Global Cultural Awareness, it is now impossible to ignore the universal truths of the subject matter. I want my work to speak to many people, not just to the Austrian ballet buffs.  I have tried to take a new approach and do extensive research with the help of my multi-national dancers, to make the pieces less conventionally European.  UWC helped filter my art for an international audience appreciation.”