Lillian Covillo Oral History, 2003

Item

Identifier: D009.03.0005.00002

Staff Only

Abstract

Lillian Covillo recounts her early years growing up in Denver, Colorado and attending St. Philomena's parochial school where she was first exposed to ballet through teacher, Lucille Brush. She discusses her early professional experiences, including assuming Brush's responsibilities for teaching dance at Cathedral High School, her association with the Denver Grand Opera Company, and her initial introduction to Freidann Parker and modern dancing through the Martha Wilcox modern dance group. She describes the early professional collaboration between herself and Parker through the Covillo-Parker School of Ballet. Covillo also describes the experiences of founding and making a success of the Colorado Concert Ballet, which was the precursor to the Colorado Ballet Company.

Dates

2003

Creator

Friends of the Carson-Brierly Dance Library (Organization)

Digital Repository

Lillian Covillo Oral History

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Biographical / Historical

A native of Denver, Lillian began her ballet studies at St. Philomena's Catholic School with Lucille Brush. During the summer she studied with Bently Stone and dance pioneer Ruth Page, in Chicago. Lillian had just graduated from high school when she was asked to take over the classes at Sr. Philomena's with the proviso that she continue her education. Lillian attended Loretto Heights College and the University of Denver. At DU, while dancing with Martha Wilcox's dance troupe, she met Freidann Parker. This meeting began a partnership that oversaw Covillo-Parker School of Ballet, the founding of Denver Civic Ballet and Colorado Concert Ballet, and the transition of the company to Colorado Ballet. Lillian passed away in 2010.