John McFall enjoyed a long and distinguished career with San Francisco Ballet as a Principal dancer, and choreographer. John was mentored and guided by venerable artists such as Lew Christensen, Erik Bruhn, Anatole Vilzak, Alan Howard, and Tatiana Dokoudovska.
As well as dancing, John choreographed numerous ballets for the San Francisco Ballet. Many commissions followed for American Ballet Theater, National Ballet of Canada, Dance Theater of Harlem, Hubbard Street Dance, Oakland Ballet and several Opera Companies. While collaborating, John worked with dancers Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cynthia Gregory, Fernando Bujones, Kevin McKenzie, Rex Harrington, Virginia Johnson, Robert La Fosse, and Violette Verdy.
He was impressed through his experiences how compelling it was to be immersed in the Theater World. He envisioned sharing this opportunity with others. He dreamed of breaking down barriers, opening doors, and welcoming people to experience performing on the stages of the world filled with audiences enrapt with anticipation.
To lead the charge he realized he needed to become an Artistic Director. The type of Director that understood the value of dance education as a business also. To raise a lot of money, build endowments, make scholarships available, and have a presence in the community as an Institution that is there for everyone. This required a large campus, lots of studios, warehousing for scenery, parking for families, health and mindfulness, nutrition, and all that comes with becoming an artist.
John was then appointed Artistic Director of BalletMet, with a vision to engage communities, and bring the Arts into peoples lives. He turned BalletMet into a touring Company, with exhilarating repertoire. The BalletMet Dance Academy developed into a School with an expansive number of students of all genre’s and ages.
Atlanta Ballet recognized John’s achievements and he was then hired to lead Atlanta Ballet. John was announced as the new Artistic Director / CEO for the next twenty years. He premiered multiple original, innovative works in the repertoire. Choreographers of distinction included William Forsythe, Alexei Ratmansky, Wayne McGregor, Alexander Ekman, Jean- Christophe Maillot, Jorma Elo, Ohad Naharin, Paul Taylor and Yuri Possokhov. World Classics by Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, August Bournonville, Michel Fokine, Bronislava Nijinska, Sir Kenneth Macmillan, Marius Petipa, Jean Coralli & Jules Perrot rounded out part of the historical profile which is relevant to our audiences and dancers. This became a McFall trademark.
John continues his legacy in the Arts by mentoring, teaching and coaching internationally.
John McFall started collaborating with European School of Ballet in 2024.