Gwen Bowen School of Dance Arts . Denver, CO Instructors

Miss Bowen

Gwen Bowen — 303-722-2624

Artistic Director and Instructor Member of Dance Master of America (Life Member), Midwest Dance Association*, Dance Educators of America (Regional Director), American Society of Teachers of Dancing*, National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists, Denver Civic Ballet (Founding Member). Ms. Bowen received a B.A. from Denver University and was a teacher in Denver Public Schools and Metropolitan State College for many years. She is a life member of Dance Educators of America and is listed in "Who's Who in Dance".

Miss B. was honored recently as a recipient of the prestigious Dance Teacher Award for 2004 (in the "private studio" category), at ceremonies held during the annual Dance Theater Summer Conference in New York City. Read more about it here.

Ms. B has closed her school and will only be teaching 2 days per week due to partial retirement

*Appeared as Faculty

Find out what Miss B. had to say about her instructors!

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Pat Sarmir — 303-485-5345

College education: Ohio State University, B.S. in Art Education; Miami University, graduate studies in Education; Wright State University, Retraining Certification in Elementary Education. Ms. Sarmir trained at the Rita Hoefler School of Dance in 1976-81, Kathleen Hill Dance Academy 1982, Gwen Bowen School of Dance Arts 1983-present. She also attended the Colorado Dance Festival Jazz Tap Workshops, Dance Conventions, Master Classes and Workshops in tap, ballet and jazz. Certifications include Ohio Art Education K-12, Ohio Elementary Education 1-8, Ohio Non-Public Schools K-12 and Dance Educators of America-Performing Arts. Her work experience is Dayton City Schools 1963-66, Holy Angels School 1971-75, Rita Hoefler School of Dance 1976-81, One Step Ahead Dance 1982-85, Foothills Recreation Center Summer 1983, Englewood Recreation Center 1983-88, Montessori at Denver Place 1988-2000, Malley Center 2003-present, Gwen Bowen School of Dance Arts 1985-present.

Ricki Harada — 720-217-7535

Born in Southern Japan, Ricki Harada began his dance career in 1986 as a funky jazz dancer in a professional troupe. He toured Japan extensively while studying ballet, mime and traditional Japanese dance, all of which he incorporates in his unique style. Ricki trained at Kumamoto Ballet in Japan from 1986-88, did summer intensive mime training at the Greg Goldstein Mime School in Columbus, Ohio 1989-90, and received a scholarship from Colorado Ballet in 1989. From 1994-present Ricki has appeared in many local dance festivals and has been choreographer of Jafrika in Denver, Colorado. He has also been a dancer on MTV. Ricki now teaches a Hip-hop dance class at the Gwen Bowen School of Dance Arts. More on his dance career can be seen at www.interpacificnet.com/art/usa/jafrika.htm.

Natalia Perez del Villar — 720-771-7223

Natalia was born in Oviedo, Spain. She started her studies of dance at the age of nine with ballet. At the age of thirteen, while continuing her studies of ballet, she began studying Flamenco dance. She continued her Flamenco studies in Jerez de la Frontera, Andalucia at La Fundacion Andaluza de Flamenco under the tutelage of Matilde Coral and Rafeal "el negro." Before moving to the United States, Natalia taught and performed this beautiful art form throughout Spain. For the past five years she has been teaching and performing in Denver.

We still have space for teachers interested in joining our staff!
Please inquire using the contact information below.