Gloria English

Memorial Service

Obituary

As seen in the Kansas City Star Newspaper, Sunday, 02-03-02

Gloria English, Kansas City, MO, passed away at 9:20pm on Thursday, January, 31, 2002 at St. Luke's Hospital. Memorial services will be 6:30pm, Wednesday, February 6th, at the McGilley Midtown Chapel, 20 W. Linwood Blvd. Friends may call from 5-6:30pm, Wednesday, at the Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to the City Union Mission.

Ms. English was born September 12th, 1917 in Chicago, Ill. to Joseph and Viola (Sanger) Chynoweth. Gloria was a professional dancer since the age of 2 years, as she taught and performed until February of 2001. Most of her dancing career was in Chicago, New York, Acapulco, Mexico City, and Kansas City.

Her most noted dancing highlights included dancing for the First Dancers for Mexican President Miguel Aleman, star of the Pan-American Follies, regular featured performer at Teatra Blanquita in Mexico City, Dancing with the American Baroque Dance Theatre, and the Kansas City Civic Ballet.

Ms. English taught dance in various colleges and universities, including Kansas State Teacher's College, Central Missouri State University, UMKC, U. of Texas, and Texas Women's University. She founded the award-winning dance group, the Gloria English Dancers, and co-founded the first Middle Eastern Dance School in the Kansas City Area, the Nikoria Dance Academy.

Ms. English was preceded in death by her husband, Dwight Lincoln English, her parents, and two brothers, Stanley and Jimmy Chynoweth. She is survived by her devoted daughter, Nicole English of Kansas City, MO, and two sisters-in-law, Dawn and Lorrie Chynoweth.

Email: EnglishN@umkc.edu