Mommie Dearest School of Dance And Charm

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How We Got Started

The Mommie Dearest School of Dance & Charm was born in late 1988 during the AIDS pandemic. Barbara had the privilege of being one of 38 cast members and over 80 creative technical professionals who gave of their time and talent for many months to create "Hooray for Hollywood," a lavish musical extravaganza that raised tens of thousands of dollars for the support of people living with AIDS and for research to end the terrible suffering that the government and much of the public at that time tried to ignore. One of the many characters that Barbara played in the two shows that were performed at the Paramount Theater and the DCPA was a larger-than-life Joan Crawford who menaced the lead character, Dorothy. Apparently Barbara was perfect for the part, and since she had no real name for her growing dance studio which was forging its own identity separate from a gymnastic school, Mommie Dearest was born!

The Choreographers

Barbara:
Barbara is the owner/operator of the Mommie Dearest School of Dance & Charm and has danced, taught, choreographed, and performed for over 30 years. As a performer, she has probably played every hooker/stripper part in Musical Theater. As a choreographer, she has choreographed a wide array of shows, from well-known musicals such as "The Music Man", "The Unsinkable Molly Brown", "Oliver", "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", "Guys & Dolls", and "Closer Than Ever", to more quirky performances such as The Mystery of Edwin Drood to the ever popular Vampire Lesbians of Sodom. She is proud to be presently choreographing and working with the Demented Divas at Lannie Clocktower Cabaret.
As a teacher, Barbara has taught dance to students in public schools, numerous dance studios, and her own studio. At 60, Barbara is not ready to retire or back down and she will continue to inspire and empower History, Women's Studies, and Geography students at Metro & CCA to stand up, question everything (especially the government), challenge old patterns, and dare to change the world!
Rachel:
Rachel Ray - Hello everyone!! This is my first year teaching tap dance at the Mommie Dearest School of Dance and Charm. I hav been dancing for 15 years with an emphasis in tap and ballet. For the majority of my dance career I studied under Gary Shull at Milliken University in Decatur, IL. I have since then been on stage in dance shows, competitions, acting and singing. As a competitor I have won 2 platinum and 4 gold medals in my division as well as 2 First place overall medals in tap through Celebrity and DEA. I have enjoyed competing in duets and group numbers alongside my mother who continues to inspire me every day! I started my acting career at the age of 4 in my annual family reunions where each family would produce and act out a play or musical. I have been a dancer in, "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown", Jane Adams in "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night", and a singer in the town shorus in "Sleeping Beauty". I have been singing for 15 years as well and have been in swing choir, honors and a cappella choir. Music and dance have always been a part of my life and I am happy to have had the oppportunity to also learn piano, flute, drums and guitar. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to teach and choreograph tap dance with such a talented studio! Right now we are busy working on our Holiday show for December 2008 and I want to thank all of my students for their hard work and dedication to dance!
James:
As a California native, James has been dancing all around Denver, since his return to CO in 2000. James started taking professional dance classes at Eveoke Dance Theatre, in San Diego, CA. Arriving in denver, he quickly made known what he was here for. Taking 1st place, in all competitions he competed in, James begun creating an image for himself as one of the best dancers/choreographers in Denver. He has worked with many dancers including but not limited too, Manual High School, East High School, the Boys & Girls Club, church dance teams and Cleo Parker Robinsons "AYE" youth program. He recently joined as a member of Cleo Parkers "training group". Adding her annual play "GRANNY DANCES TO A HOLIDAY DRUM", to his list of achievements. James brings a vibrant SO CAL' style to his hip-hop infused classes.