Miljenko V. Banovic

In memoriam

MAESTRO MILJENKO V. BANOVIC BIRTH: October 19, 1936, in Zagreb, Croatia. DEATH: December 24, 2016, in Dunedin, Florida. DIRECTOR OF THE DENVER CIVIC BALLET 1973 to 1985. Head of the dance department at Loretto Heights College. Danced in many leading roles, classical and contemporary. BALLET BEGINNINGS AND MORE: Started with ballet in Zagreb, Croatia, at age seventeen in 1953 with Mile Jovanovic. In 1955, studied at the Legat School of Ballet in England. In 1956, he left for Paris, France. Lived in Paris for seventeen years. Principal dancer with many dance companies, to include Roland Petit Company, Ballet des Etoiles de Paris, Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas, Ballet de la Jeunesse and Company, and Paris Opera. Worked at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Performed, taught and choreographed for many opera and ballet companies. 1962: STARRING ROLE IN FILM "The Lovers of Teruel" (Les Amants de Teruel) and received an award at the Cannes Film Festival that year. 1970: Moved to Dallas, Texas, after appearing with the renowned ballerina Maria Tallchief. He was Affiliate Artist. WIFE GAIA: In 1982 he accepted a position as a guest teacher and choreographer at Ljubljana Opera and Ballet in Ljubljana, Slovenia. It was there that he met his wife Gaia. They returned to Denver, Colorado, where he became Director of Ballet Arts Center School and Theater. SON CHRISTIAN BORN: Miljenko and Gaia's only child, son Christian, was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1986. 1990-1997: Artistic Director of Boulder Ballet Ensemble in Boulder, Colorado. RETIRED: To Dundedin, Florida in 2004. Prior to retirement, Miljenko appeared with Colorado Ballet in productions of Don Quixote and Romeo and Juliet. Choreographed with Colorado Opera and taught company master classes at Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company. AMONG SURVIVORS: Gaia, son Christian, brother Branimir, nephew Aleksander and family, niece Miljenka and family, and relatives in Croatia and Slovenia, and friends all over the world. MEMORIAL SERVICE: 3:30PM, Saturday, January 14, 2017, at Church of the Ascension, 701 Orange Avenue, Clearwater, Florida. FINAL RESTING PLACE in Zagreb, Croatia.

Locația mormântului