Brynar Mehl, dancer, teacher and choreographer, was born in the Great Lakes Region and raised in Southern California, where his professional dancing career began under Anna Sokolow. In New York City he danced for her with the Manhattan Festival Ballet, under Alica Alonso in her Giselle and Coppelia and with Charles Weidman at New York City Opera.

Mehl's lifelong teacher and mentor was Margaret Craske, from whom he acquired a sense of the great value of teaching, and with whom he shared an appreciation of the work of Meher Baba. He met Baba in 1962 and considered that the turning point in his life. Other profound influences were choreographer Anthony Tudor and ideokinesiologist Andre Bernard.

Mehl danced with Merce Cunningham and Dance Company in many signature works such as Rainforest and Winterbranch. He created roles in several pieces and was given one of Cunningham's own solos. He toured three continents with the company and helped Cunningham set the direction and establish standards for dance on film and tape in the landmark Westbeth Video Project. He is one of two people credited with bringing the Cunningham technique to Europe.

Mehl also danced in musicals at Lincoln Center, on Broadway, with Agnes de Mille and in Hollywood with Donald O'Connor, Ethel Merman and Ginger Rogers. He appeared on the Ed Sullivan and Perry Como shows.

Mehl taught and created choreography for schools and companies all over the world, from San Francisco to Paris, to Alaska, to London, to Brussels, to Vermont, to Texas. At the time of his death he was Ballet Master for The Asheville Ballet and taught at Fletcher School of Dance, The International Ballet Academy and Western Carolina University.

His friends, colleagues and students mourn the loss of a gentle and noble soul, a consummate artist, a most generous teacher and a beloved man.

A service of memory and celebration of Brynar Mehl's life was held at Fletcher School of Dance on Jan. 18. For information on a gathering of the Meher Baba community call Cathy Riley at 828-251-1611.