Studio Stories: Reminiscing on Twin Cities Dance with Denise Armstead - Season 5, Episode 73

Denise Armstead is an internationally acclaimed dancer,
choreographer and teacher. She is currently Artistic Director of
D.A. Dance. Ms Armstead has been a dancer for 40 years, 20 of
which she spent as a founding member and premiere dancer with
Minneapolis-based Zenon Dance Company. She has also been an
aerial artist and choreographer with Risa Cohen Aerial Company,
flying through the air on Trapeze, Silks and Harness.

Her work has been seen around the globe, including performances
in Switzerland, Aruba, Russia and the Marianas Islands. She has
commanded center stage at New York's Joyce Theater, The Ordway,
The Walker Art Center, The O'Shaugnessey Theater, and the
Ritz.
Her dancing has been reviewed to acclaim by the New York Times
and the Village Voice. Her work in the New York Film Festival
earned a Gold Medal, and the City Pages has selected Ms. Armstead
as Best Dancer in the Twin Cites. The Minnesota State Legislature
passed a resolution praising Denise's artistic contributions at
the “Women of Nations” domestic violence shelter, the first and
only such citation for a dance artist.

In 2012, her multimedia work, “The Three Bonnie Project”, played
to standing ovations at the Burnsville Performing Art Center. The
Project has been cited as setting the precedent as one of the
best combinations of video and dance. Most recently, Denise broke
barriers as the first dance company to serve as an Artist in
Residence and perform at the Wykoff Theater, along with D.A.
Dance performing the first ever evening length dance work at the
Zumbrota Theater. 

Denise has taught dance worldwide, and is also a well-respected
equestrienne and riding teacher. She choreographs for the
Minnesota Equine Vaulting team and has studied with Olympic-bound
athletes. She currently resides in Nerstrand, Minnesota with her
stallion-man partner, their ponies, peacocks and lots of cats and
dogs.