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Irish dance teacher Dennis Dennehy, dead at 73 taught 'Lord of the Dance' Michael Flatley
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Matthew Kruk
Jan 11, 2013, 2:27:46 AM1/11/13
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http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/17484661-418/irish-dance-teacher-dennis-dennehy-dead-at-73-taught-lord-of-the-dance-michael-flatley.html
Irish dance teacher Dennis Dennehy, dead at 73 taught 'Lord of the Dance'
Michael Flatley
BY MAUREEN O'DONNELL Staff Reporter modo...@suntimes.com
January 9, 2013 10:48PM
Updated: January 10, 2013 7:34PM
You've heard of "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon?" The Irish version would be "Six
Degrees of Dennis Dennehy."
Mr. Dennehy, an Irish dance teacher for more than half a century, taught the
most famous Irish dancer in the world, "Lord of the Dance" Michael Flatley, as
well as Mark Howard, who co-founded Chicago's Trinity, the largest Irish dance
program in the world.
His influence on the art form was pervasive. More than 100 Irish dance teachers
in the Midwest can trace their roots to Mr. Dennehy, and they founded at least
27 schools, according to Tim O'Hare, of the Tim O'Hare School of Irish Dance.
Mr. Dennehy, 73, of Oak Lawn, died Sunday.
He and his wife, Margie, co-founded the Dennehy School of Irish Dance in the
early 1960s. His dancers had impeccable carriage and Najinsky-esque leaps. In
the 1970s, when the Dennehy School became a powerhouse, students would arrive at
a feis - a dance competition - radiating an authority that made other dancers
try harder.
Flatley came to his school relatively late. Many students start taking Irish
dance at age 4 or 5. But Flatley was 11 when he arrived at the Dennehy School.
"He thought Michael was a bit too old," said Mr. Dennehy's son, Dennis Dennehy.
Then, Michael took to the floor.
"My dad, as soon as he saw him dance the first time, he knew he was special,"
Dennis Dennehy said.
Flatley became the first North American - and the first dancer outside of
Europe - to win a world championship in Irish dance. He performed with the
Chieftains, headlined in the show "Riverdance" and created the extravaganzas
"Lord of the Dance'' and "Feet of Flames." Flatley's touring versions of his
shows have made him one of the richest performers in show business - and made it
cool for little boys everywhere to do Irish dance.
"Without Dennis, many people, like myself, would have never had a chance to
learn this beautiful art form," Flatley said. "His hard work and determination
was legendary. And his true competitive spirit was evident in the number of
champions he produced. It is a credit to him that he built the finest Irish
dance school in Chicago."
Mr. Dennehy grew up on the West Side and attended St. Philip High School. His
parents were from the towns of Bantry Bay and Macroom in County Cork, Ireland,
and he studied Irish dance with Mary Campbell. He attended Loyola University,
where he met his future wife, Margie Bartishell, who'd learned Irish dance from
Pat Roche.
Mr. Dennehy worked as an underwriter for Kemper Insurance.
When he and his wife co-founded the Dennehy School, her specialty was intricate
choreography that told stories. She created one called "Lord of the Dance" that
featured Flatley. She also mapped out an award-winning number for the 1976
Bicentennial that traced the history of the Irish in America. In one arresting
moment, the dancers formed a train to represent Irish labor on the railroads.
The Dennehys taught dance to Eleanor Daley, daughter of the late mayor, and
famed Irish fiddler Liz Carroll. The basement of their home was filled with
trophies.
"My mom and dad would teach, and they would line the kids up in a line, and Mom
was on one end, and Dad was on the other. If you didn't know your steps too
good, you got closer to my mom," their son said, to avoid Mr. Dennehy's booming
voice.
Dancers foolish enough to chew gum in class usually found it deposited on their
nose.
Mr. Dennehy loved his Alaskan malamute, Seamus (Irish for James), and the family
mutt, Shannon.
In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by a daughter, Kathleen, who
runs the dance school; sisters Therese Smetana and Margaret Jandacek; a brother,
Emmett, and a grandson, Conor.
Visitation is from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Blake Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W.
103rd, Oak Lawn. A funeral mass will be said at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Linus
Church in Oak Lawn.
Mr. Dennehy was a big fan of the University of Notre Dame. He died the day
before Notre Dame's 42-14 loss Monday to Alabama in the BCS championship game.
"He said, 'I hope I make it to see the game,' " his son said. "Well, he didn't
miss much."Irish dance teacher Dennis Dennehy, dead at 73 taught 'Lord of the
Dance' Michael Flatley
Irish dance teacher Dennis Dennehy, dead at 73 taught 'Lord of the Dance'
Michael Flatley
BY MAUREEN O'DONNELL Staff Reporter modo...@suntimes.com
January 9, 2013 10:48PM
Updated: January 10, 2013 7:34PM
You've heard of "Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon?" The Irish version would be "Six
Degrees of Dennis Dennehy."
Mr. Dennehy, an Irish dance teacher for more than half a century, taught the
most famous Irish dancer in the world, "Lord of the Dance" Michael Flatley, as
well as Mark Howard, who co-founded Chicago's Trinity, the largest Irish dance
program in the world.
His influence on the art form was pervasive. More than 100 Irish dance teachers
in the Midwest can trace their roots to Mr. Dennehy, and they founded at least
27 schools, according to Tim O'Hare, of the Tim O'Hare School of Irish Dance.
Mr. Dennehy, 73, of Oak Lawn, died Sunday.
He and his wife, Margie, co-founded the Dennehy School of Irish Dance in the
early 1960s. His dancers had impeccable carriage and Najinsky-esque leaps. In
the 1970s, when the Dennehy School became a powerhouse, students would arrive at
a feis - a dance competition - radiating an authority that made other dancers
try harder.
Flatley came to his school relatively late. Many students start taking Irish
dance at age 4 or 5. But Flatley was 11 when he arrived at the Dennehy School.
"He thought Michael was a bit too old," said Mr. Dennehy's son, Dennis Dennehy.
Then, Michael took to the floor.
"My dad, as soon as he saw him dance the first time, he knew he was special,"
Dennis Dennehy said.
Flatley became the first North American - and the first dancer outside of
Europe - to win a world championship in Irish dance. He performed with the
Chieftains, headlined in the show "Riverdance" and created the extravaganzas
"Lord of the Dance'' and "Feet of Flames." Flatley's touring versions of his
shows have made him one of the richest performers in show business - and made it
cool for little boys everywhere to do Irish dance.
"Without Dennis, many people, like myself, would have never had a chance to
learn this beautiful art form," Flatley said. "His hard work and determination
was legendary. And his true competitive spirit was evident in the number of
champions he produced. It is a credit to him that he built the finest Irish
dance school in Chicago."
Mr. Dennehy grew up on the West Side and attended St. Philip High School. His
parents were from the towns of Bantry Bay and Macroom in County Cork, Ireland,
and he studied Irish dance with Mary Campbell. He attended Loyola University,
where he met his future wife, Margie Bartishell, who'd learned Irish dance from
Pat Roche.
Mr. Dennehy worked as an underwriter for Kemper Insurance.
When he and his wife co-founded the Dennehy School, her specialty was intricate
choreography that told stories. She created one called "Lord of the Dance" that
featured Flatley. She also mapped out an award-winning number for the 1976
Bicentennial that traced the history of the Irish in America. In one arresting
moment, the dancers formed a train to represent Irish labor on the railroads.
The Dennehys taught dance to Eleanor Daley, daughter of the late mayor, and
famed Irish fiddler Liz Carroll. The basement of their home was filled with
trophies.
"My mom and dad would teach, and they would line the kids up in a line, and Mom
was on one end, and Dad was on the other. If you didn't know your steps too
good, you got closer to my mom," their son said, to avoid Mr. Dennehy's booming
voice.
Dancers foolish enough to chew gum in class usually found it deposited on their
nose.
Mr. Dennehy loved his Alaskan malamute, Seamus (Irish for James), and the family
mutt, Shannon.
In addition to his wife and son, he is survived by a daughter, Kathleen, who
runs the dance school; sisters Therese Smetana and Margaret Jandacek; a brother,
Emmett, and a grandson, Conor.
Visitation is from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Blake Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 W.
103rd, Oak Lawn. A funeral mass will be said at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Linus
Church in Oak Lawn.
Mr. Dennehy was a big fan of the University of Notre Dame. He died the day
before Notre Dame's 42-14 loss Monday to Alabama in the BCS championship game.
"He said, 'I hope I make it to see the game,' " his son said. "Well, he didn't
miss much."Irish dance teacher Dennis Dennehy, dead at 73 taught 'Lord of the
Dance' Michael Flatley
Brian Watson
Jan 11, 2013, 7:04:44 AM1/11/13
to
"Matthew Kruk" <nob...@home.com> wrote in message
news:E9PHs.136056$1m3....@en-nntp-03.dc1.easynews.com...
> http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/17484661-418/irish-dance-teacher-dennis-dennehy-dead-at-73-taught-lord-of-the-dance-michael-flatley.html
>
> Irish dance teacher Dennis Dennehy, dead at 73 taught 'Lord of the Dance'
> Michael Flatley
Ha! Justice is served at LAST!
>
> Irish dance teacher Dennis Dennehy, dead at 73 taught 'Lord of the Dance'
> Michael Flatley
--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."
Kris Baker
Jan 19, 2013, 7:27:46 PM1/19/13
to
"Brian Watson" <Br...@imagebus.co.uk> wrote in message
news:A92dnYSQloGZnW3N...@bt.com...
>
> "Matthew Kruk" <nob...@home.com> wrote in message
> news:E9PHs.136056$1m3....@en-nntp-03.dc1.easynews.com...
>> http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/17484661-418/irish-dance-teacher-dennis-dennehy-dead-at-73-taught-lord-of-the-dance-michael-flatley.html
>>
>> Irish dance teacher Dennis Dennehy, dead at 73 taught 'Lord of the Dance'
>> Michael Flatley
>
> Ha! Justice is served at LAST!
> --
> Brian
Really. Someone had to pay for that.
> "Matthew Kruk" <nob...@home.com> wrote in message
> news:E9PHs.136056$1m3....@en-nntp-03.dc1.easynews.com...
>> http://www.suntimes.com/news/obituaries/17484661-418/irish-dance-teacher-dennis-dennehy-dead-at-73-taught-lord-of-the-dance-michael-flatley.html
>>
>> Irish dance teacher Dennis Dennehy, dead at 73 taught 'Lord of the Dance'
>> Michael Flatley
>
> Ha! Justice is served at LAST!
> --
> Brian
Kris
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