Richard Denny was in the professional dance world for many years working both on Broadway in New York City and with major ballet companies around the U.S.A.
Mr. Denny died suddenly at his Denver home on July 28 at age 70. The students and teachers at Ballet Now will miss him greatly!
Mr. Denny was born Rich ard Chiodini on July 14, 1938, in Anamosa, Iowa. He came to Denver as a teenager in the mid-1950s with his family. After attending now- closed Cathedral High School, he moved to New York to pursue life on the stage. For more information - please click here.
He taught for the Barbie Graham Miere School of Dance for 15 years and taught for several other schools in the area. He also taught and/or choreographed for Ballet Nouveau, California Ballet, San Diego, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Amarillo Ballet.
Richard Denny's original choreography was widely known across the county. He choreographed new ballets for the Denver School for the Arts, Ballet Nouvean, and the David Taylor Dance Theater in 2003.
Richard danced all the major classical roles from the Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, Coppelia, FireBird, Giselle and many others.
Ballet training was with Lillian Covillo, Robert Joffrey, Eddie Caton, George Balanchine, and Madam Alexandra Fedorova Fokine.
Modern training was with Friedann Parker, Martha Wilcox, Duicy Ampter, Hanya Holm, Martha Graham, and Daniel Nagrin. Tap training was with Joe Layton, Paul Draper, and Diane Smith.
Physical therapy training was with Corolla Treaire, and Joseph Pilates.
Jazz training was with Bob Fosse, Matt Mattox, Larry Stevens, Gus Giordono, and Luigi (NYC).