Reverend Toby Behan's journey to the pulpit began somewhere few of his parishioners would ever guess. Today he leads a rural Canterbury congregation, but his path here was anything but ordinary — and 1News reporter Thomas Mead followed it.
At first glance, the man at the pulpit looks like any other vicar at a rural parish — from his simple shirt to the white collar of an Anglican minister.
But there are notes of something extra to Reverend Toby Behan’s preaching. His hands glide and weave rhythmically as he speaks. His back is straight, his frame strong.
At a recent sermon at Rangiora's St John the Baptist, his voice projected clearly across the pews.
"We look ahead to the second coming, the return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," he declared.
For seven years, Toby Behan has led a busy parish in rural Canterbury — but his life before ministry followed a very different calling. (Source: 1News)
But what most of those parishioners don't know, is that in years gone by, the same man was one of New Zealand best ballet dancers.
Behan, who has led the Anglican Parish of Rangiora for seven years, danced with the Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) in the 1990s and has a life-long association with the world of dance.
A humble man, he's never really let on the extent of his past career to his parishioners.
"I would say people here don't know very much at all," Behan said.
"I might have dropped a comment here or there."
Churchgoers confirmed as much after the service when asked by 1News.
"He keeps that part of his life very separate," one said.
"I might have seen him do a little jig when he's played a good golf shot or something," another joked.
At the peak of his career, Behan performed principal roles with the RNZB, including Peter Pan and the title role in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He also appeared in a retelling of Dracula.
"We were at one theatre the week following a Prince concert, I think, in some massive, massive theatres, numbers you can't conceive of in New Zealand," he said, recalling a tour to the US.
"I was living the dream really."
Beyond performing, Behan also worked as a choreographer with the RNZB, including staging Pinocchio in 2011.
His pivot to ministry came after the birth of his first child, with the ballet schedule proving too arduous.
Raised in a Christian household, Behan said he began to feel the call of God – even if he didn't listen straight away.
"My father was in ministry, and I remember growing up thinking there is no way that I would be able to do what Dad did," he said.
"I started realising that actually, it's not about being prepared already or even capable. God assists with that. It's a matter of whether you're willing to say yes or not."
Today, he presides over a busy parish in the rural Canterbury town of Rangiora.
Alongside that role, he has remained a respected figure in ballet, most recently serving as a board member for the RNZB. His final board meeting was in December 2025.
Current RNZB artistic director Ty King-Wall saw Behan dance as a younger man, describing him as a wonderful "character artist" and "storyteller".
King-Wall said ballet was a "generational art form" that had a way of drawing people back.
"I think it's really important in being a generational art form, that experience and that information is not lost, and it's passed on, because that's a necessity for the survival of the art form."
Behan continues to do just that. Alongside his work as a vicar, he occasionally stage-manages productions at a ballet school run by fellow former RNZB dancer Anneliese Gilberd. The pair once danced together.
At a recent production in Christchurch, Behan could be seen watching closely as the dancers went through their routines, ensuring everything was running smoothly.
Gilberd said she saw Behan's aptitude for caring for other people early on.
"I think his love and care of the world and of people always came through in his dancing," she said.
"He was always just so kind and so beautiful, like just a really genuine soul."
Behan said the skills he developed through ballet have helped him with his church leadership, especially his time as a choreographer.
"There are lots of things going on, both in a church on a Sunday and in general life," he said.
"I've actually found that the ability to keep the bigger picture in mind and how that connects together, I found that incredibly helpful in ministry."
While dance remains a deep love, Behan said his faith ultimately proved the stronger calling.
"I loved dancing deeply — I really did," he said.
"But I love ministry more."
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