John Welker, Visionary, Dancer and Mentor
The Dancer Turned Director Bringing Ballet to a Broader Audience
Although his many accolades range from receiving scholarships from places like the School of American Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet Academy to being the founder of Atlanta Ballet’s Wabi Sabi contemporary dance initiative, John Welker is humble. He says, at his core, he is simply a guy from Ohio committed to sharing his craft with the world. As the Director of Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre in Buckhead, Welker hopes to bridge the ballet gap, making the performing art more accessible to a broader audience.
Tell me about your professional background that ultimately landed you in ballet and further, in ballet and theater leadership.
I had a lot of people who were generous with their time. They saw something [in me] and brought it out. Then I had a director, John McFall, who gave us a platform to find out who we were and not just follow his vision. He encouraged me to do things outside of my full time job. For me, that meant starting Wabi Sabi back in 2009. Barry Hughson, Virginia Hepner and Arturo Jacobus all encouraged and gave me a platform to provide a summer contemporary offshoot company where I could bring in choreographers and hire the dancers over the summer when typically there was no work. That catapulted me to do other things. I served as our union delegate for many years, representing the dancers and negotiating contracts. I served on the National Committee of the American Guild of Musical Artists. I didn’t shy away from responsibility.
What is one thing you want people to know about Terminus?
Many people think of ballet as a high art, and it can be intimidating in that way. We take that high art back to Earth. The places we perform and the repertory we create are meant to make this high art form accessible and enjoyable for everybody.
How do you hope to inspire children who are interested in ballet?
In ballet, you train in a highly competitive environment. You’re competing with each other for the few spots that are available for a paying job in this industry. It’s tough, especially when you’re developing as an individual at the same time. We strive to create a level of safety. We’re giving these kids confidence and setting them up for success so they can be proud of their accomplishments. When you think about ballet, there’s a certain way to do things, and we maintain that in the classroom, but at the same time, everyone is not on the same path, and it’s not linear. We have an incredible staff who realizes everyone’s on a different path, but still sets high expectations. We know they’re capable of it.
