Garth Welch, a towering figure in Australian ballet whose career as a dancer, choreographer and company director spanned nearly five decades, died on Tuesday, Sept. 2. He was 89. No cause of death has been provided; reports said he had been in poor health for several years.
Born in Brisbane in 1936, Welch trained under leading teachers before making his professional debut in musical theatre. He joined Melbourne’s Borovansky Ballet in 1954 and soon established himself as a principal dancer. After periods overseas with Western Theatre Ballet (later the Scottish Ballet) and the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas, he returned to Australia in 1962 and accepted an invitation from founding Australian Ballet artistic director Dame Peggy van Praagh to be Principal of the newly formed company.
For more than a decade Welch was central to the Australian Ballet’s repertoire, performing leading roles in classical works and originating parts in ballets by Sir Robert Helpmann. He partnered some of the company’s leading women, including his future wife Marilyn Jones, as well as Marilyn Rowe and Kathleen Gorham, and appeared alongside international stars such as Dame Margot Fonteyn.
From the 1970s Welch moved increasingly into choreography and artistic leadership. He served as Associate Artistic Director of Ballet Victoria and later led the West Australian Ballet. His choreography included Variations on a Theme (1964), Othello (1968) and Beauty and the Beast (1985), and he accepted commissions from companies across Australia and New Zealand. He also worked with the Sydney Dance Company and drew international praise for his performance in After Venice in 1984.
Welch returned to musical theatre in 1993 with a role in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and was a familiar presence on Australian television in the 1960s and 1970s, appearing on variety programs such as Bert Newton’s In Melbourne Tonight. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1981 for services to the arts and was inducted into the Australian Dance Awards Hall of Fame in 2002.
Fans and colleagues took to social media after the announcement to share memories of Welch’s stage presence and influence. "A great loss to the ballet world. I have so many memories of his dancing," one user wrote. "Beautiful dancer. Condolences to his family," another posted. "A wonderful dancer and choreographer. It's a sad day," a third added.
Welch is survived by his wife, former principal dancer Marilyn Jones, and their two sons, Stanton and Damien, both of whom pursued careers in dance. Colleagues and historians say his combination of classical technique and willingness to expand into contemporary and theatrical forms helped shape the development of Australian dance in the second half of the 20th century.