Wow, I am so sorry to hear Errol passing.  I just ran across a couple of old letters he wrote me.  We hung out every single day after rehearsals at Ballet South in Alabama.  It was pretty much of us against them.  We both quit at the same time giving the director hell in front of the company.   We cruised around in an old Studebaker he bought in Birmingham.  He was a tough guy but a very good dude.  He went by Van Hart while down there.   He would cook up healthy stuff like tempeh and we would talk shit.  He would meditate in the park before our awful company classes.  He was chill but always ready for a fight.  He was Paris in Romeo and Juliet.  He even managed to date the ballet mistress.  I really wish I had gotten back in touch with him.  Never met anyone else even remotely like him.  

Errol Merghart:

i have often thought of Errol, and wondered what happened with him, and maybe he wondered what i did too. we met during a summer intensive with the Joffrey Ballet at UC Berkeley 1971; we were in the same ballet classes and hung out, and we both ended up going to the Netherlands to the royal school there, and we again had classes together for several more months. at one time, somehow, we drove to Antwerp, to take a class there from a visiting master prof - so long ago; 1971 October was when we left the States - we went to several dance performances around the Hague and Amsterdam. i was almost 21 but still very young as a dancer, and we perfected, for a short time at least, a way to get in the stage door like dancers, and infiltrate the audience to watch show after show. this was NDT in one of its heydays. and we went to Belgium again, to see Béjart. we were also relieved of our scholarships from the royal school by a visiting prof who thought we were too ‘disruptive’ of ‘good’ discipline. c’est la breaks. for seeing another company? ... tsk tsk

those were the days. great guy. good dancer, we were both students at the time but he had a couple-4 years on me. he was a good model for me; i am (was) a klutz) He just suddenly disappeared, and i moved to A’dam then London, - have always wished him well; he was an important acquaintance during an intense many months of starting to get good at what i loved. i wish i had figured i might get in touch some other way years ago, but that’s c’est la vie now. take care Errol, i always thought well of you. i am glad for you as i understand you got to keep on dancing, and i did too. got to the Graham company, other countries, and some similar. hooray!! i hate to brag but i just started getting old, tho’ looking it is a little something else; but feeling it, resisting it like resisting gravity is still the prize - that’s what dancers do - take care now, am glad to know you always got to keep on dancing

DORN

I met Peter at the Unitarian Church and instantly I felt I had know Peter for a long time. He was challenging, worldly, adventurous and so bright - always teaching life lessons. He prioritized his life and let the trivia go. I loved his spirit and kindness and desire for a better world. He will not be forgotten. I am blessed to have spent precious time with him. 

I’ll miss you dad

My brother Win and I knew Errol/Peter for at least thirty-five years. He was way of the ordinary...a unique man.  He grew up in a town next to us but his family was of Dutch origin and Indonesia. He was an internationalist as I have always been. That's mainly what we had in common.  Will miss him.

Im very sorry to hear that Peter passed away . I met him in 2013 and had been his mechanic and friend ever since . He was an inspiration to me with his wealth of worldly knowledge . RIP Peter, your friend Roy

Peter was one of a kind.  I know wherever he is, he’s dancing up a storm.  God bless, and my sincerest condolences to his family and friends. 

I'm sad to hear this news. I met Peter in mexico few months ago and I was wondering why he never replied to my textes. Now I know...  

I'm sorry for your lost. Peter was a kind human being, filled of love. I'm very pleased to have met him on my path. 

I am so sorry to hear of Peter's passing. He was a good friend and great dancer. I knew him through tango. We took classes together in the late 1990's and I followed his tango career during the following decades.  He was amigos with many accomplished milongueros - Flaco Danny and Jorge Torres for instance. We had many great times dancing at milongas in DC and Boston. He had a long career in Ballet, and I saw him dance in videos filmed throughout the world, most recently Beijing China.  We have lost a great spirit.

Dear Julian,

I am very sad to hear the news of Peter’s sudden passing, and very sorry for your loss.  Peter used to say:” In the end only three things matter:  how much you loved, how gently you lived and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.”  Peter will be truly missed.

Please accept my sincere condolences.