Theatre Dance Players, 1950s – 1972; and
Theatre School of Dance, 1940s – 1972
Teachers, Directors, Choreographers: Giovanni and Henriette Giglio
I’m seeking information through newspaper articles, programs, photographs, and personal memory stories for a history project on the Giglio dancers and school. I need names, dates, places, and sources please.
This was a major dance school in Seattle beginning in the 1940s, established in the Green Lake District. It was founded by Giovanni Giglio and Henriette Hansen who later became Mr. and Mrs. They also founded the Theatre Dance Players Company in the 1950s, which performed in many local events sponsored by the Green Lake Chamber of Commerce (Christmas shows, Seafair activities, and open houses at the school).
The Theatre Dance Players also performed in classical concerts, under the musical direction of Denton Rossell, with choreography by the Giglios. This dance troupe also performed in local musical and opera productions (Seattle Civic Opera and Seattle Opera on Wheels); and in live televised original ballets on KCTS (channel 9 in Seattle, e.g. The White Dove Ballet & the Rhapsody in Blue Ballet). Giglio dancers performed in benefits through fraternal organizations. And these were the dancers who performed with the Jose Greco Show when he would bring his dance company to Seattle.
A number of Giglio dancers performed individually with Seattle Opera, in local musical theatre productions, night club revues, and northwest television appearances. Some Giglio dancers had professional careers in other parts of the country and other parts of the world: e.g. NY’s Radio City Hall ballet troupe, Broadway musicals, Las Vegas, and also Europe and Asia. The Giglio company dancers were trained and experienced in various dance arts: classical, musical theatre, jazz and flamenco.
The Giglios moved to Spain about 1972 at the request of Jose Greco who was a world famous flamenco dancer. He wanted Mr. Giglio to teach for him there. Jose Greco’s gain was Seattle’s loss.
Thus far my research has included The Green Lake Public Library and Downtown Central Library; the Green Lake Chamber of Commerce (no longer formally organized); The Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI); the Seattle Times index of newspaper articles covering the years that the Giglios were here. I have also posted to Nextdoor – a web site covering a number of north Seattle neighborhoods including Green Lake.
I was surprised to find a little information on the Giglios on ancestry.com and more that was sent to me by a volunteer with this web site (You might need to log in to ancestry.com for access to this.) https://www.ancestry.com/boards/localities.northam.usa.states.washington.counties.king/7545.1/mb.ashx
I was surprised to find a little information on the Giglios on ancestry.com and more that was sent to me by a volunteer with this web site (You might need to log in to ancestry.com for access to this.) https://www.ancestry.com/boards/localities.northam.usa.states.washington.counties.king/7545.1/mb.ashx
The following book contains a photo of the Giglio school and some information: Seattle’s Music Venues, book by Jolie Dawn Bergman p.72
Sad to say, I have also found obits for:
Mary Flanagan, who taught for the Giglios in the early years of this school
Gregory Steven King who danced professionally with the Joffrey Ballet and much more
and began his training at the Theatre School of Dance
Cleo Lee King (Mrs. Giglio’s daughter who taught for the Giglios
And a web site for Betsy Haug who has dementia but was a prominent dancer, teacher and choreographer with jazz dance being her specialty.
Any contacts and whereabouts of other Giglio dancers would be much appreciated. This could possibly develop into a book.
Marjorie Rhodes
Seattle Historian and former Giglio dancer
Hi Marjorie,
ReplyDeleteI was a student at the Giglio Theater School of Dance from
1964 until the Giglio's moved to Spain in the 1970's. I have a photo album with programs and pictures of some of the students. If you would like to contact me, please write back. Debbie Lezon
Hi Marjorie, I was also a student at the Theater School of Dance in the 50s and 60s. I played the Mouse in The Selfish Queen and the little girl who would not practice her flute in the Edvard Grieg Story. I have danced recreationally all my life in Seattle and have never come across another alum of the Giglio school.
ReplyDeleteJudi Fisher
I have a few photos of groups of dancers and a few programs from the late 50s on.
ReplyDeleteI am very glad to have found your posts and remember my training with the Giglio's
very fondly. It is exciting to see that you working on this history.
Judi Fisher
This is AWESOME to find. I was a student of theirs and remember when Jose Greco came to town and we did get to meet him and watch him dance. Love all the tidbits in here. Now I will have to go thru my moms old photos to see if she might have kept any at that time, I am remembering the name of Greg listed above, he was in the Sr class (my gosh I danced with someone that performed in the Joffrey Ballet wow), not Cleo so much as LaVonn her daughter who was also teaching ... fun memories thank you!! Denise Gonzalez
ReplyDeleteI too was a student from the early 1950's til I graduated from highschool. My mother made many of the costumes for the recitals. I'll go through my files and photos and see what I have. I also took class from Mr. Giglio when they had a small studio on Aurora Avenue.
ReplyDeleteTo "Unknown" Please contact me at marjoriesbooks@gmail
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