Age, Biography and Wiki

Peggy Willis-Aarnio (Margaret Eileen Willis) was born on 12 January, 1948 in Tampa, Florida, U.S., is an American choreographer, historian, author and teacher. Discover Peggy Willis-Aarnio's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is she in this year and how she spends money? Also learn how she earned most of networth at the age of 68 years old?

Popular As Margaret Eileen Willis
Occupation Choreographer, ballet teacher, author, historian of ballet
Age 68 years old
Zodiac Sign Capricorn
Born 12 January 1948
Birthday 12 January
Birthplace Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Date of death 2016
Died Place Panama City, Florida, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 12 January. She is a member of famous Choreographer with the age 68 years old group.

Peggy Willis-Aarnio Height, Weight & Measurements

At 68 years old, Peggy Willis-Aarnio height not available right now. We will update Peggy Willis-Aarnio's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
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Dating & Relationship status

She is currently single. She is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about She's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, She has no children.

Family
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Peggy Willis-Aarnio Net Worth

Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Peggy Willis-Aarnio worth at the age of 68 years old? Peggy Willis-Aarnio’s income source is mostly from being a successful Choreographer. She is from United States. We have estimated Peggy Willis-Aarnio's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Choreographer

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Timeline

1879

Willis-Aarnio's publications include, Agrippina Vaganova (1879–1951) : her place in the history of ballet and her impact on the future of classical dance, published in 2002 and the How to Teach Classical Ballet Series.

She wrote, directed and supervised the series, Music for the Classical Ballet Lesson with Ludmilla Petrovna Vlasenko as pianist and wrote, directed and narrated the video series, Classical Ballet Lesson which featured Galina Mezentseva.

She also produced numerous educational materials throughout her 32 years as a professor at Texas Tech University.

Peggy Willis-Aarnio was born in Tampa, Florida.

Her mother was Margaret Spangler Maria Dozier, a musician and professional model.

Her step-father, Walter H. Dozier, was a Naval Officer.

He was the Chief Pay Clerk for NATO.

The family moved to Naples, Italy, where her mother enrolled her at the age of 8 and her sister Sheila, at age 6, in ballet lessons with Peggy Burns, who had been trained at the Sadler Wells in London.

She returned to Florida when her father was stationed at the Navy Mine Defense Laboratory.

1948

Peggy Willis-Aarnio (January 12, 1948 – January 9, 2016) was an American choreographer, historian, author and teacher of classical ballet.

1966

Willis-Aarnio graduated from Bay High School in 1966.

During her years at Bay High School, she held the office of president of the drama club, and secretary of her

junior class.

She won second place in the Panama City Beauty Pageant.

She attended Texas Christian University, where she was invited to perform in the American Festival in the UK.

1969

During the summers of 1969, 1970 and 1971, she and her sister Sheila Willis were hired as performers at Mr. Koplin's Tombstone Territory on Panama City Beach.

During her last summer there, at age 21, she was hired as director and choreographer.

1970

She was a professional dancer in the early 1970s with the Ft. Worth Ballet in Fort Worth, Texas.

She was the first American ballet teacher to be sanctioned as a "Certified Practitioner and Teacher of the Teaching Method of Classical Ballet" by the Vaganova Academy in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Willis-Aarnio was a Professor Emerita and former head of the Dance Program in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

She retired from active teaching after thirty-one years, but remained on the Graduate Faculty.

She received her B.F.A. and her M.F.A. Degrees from Texas Christian University in 1970 and 1972.

She studied with John Barker of New York, and Valentina Roumiantseva of the Vaganova Ballet Academy of St. Petersburg, Russia.

1972

In 1972, Willis-Aarnio received an invitation to join the faculty at Texas Tech University as an assistant professor.

Willis-Aarnio's sister Sheila went on to a career in dance, after receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Texas Christian University, performing professionally with Iris Hensley in Marietta, Georgia (now the Georgia Ballet), and also with the Pittsburgh Dance Alloy.

Sheila studied and prepared for a second career in design while she was living in Pittsburgh, and earned an Associates Degree in Interior Design from the Art Institute in Pittsburgh.

Willis-Aarnio was married to Paul Aarnio, son of the internationally renowned architect, Reino Aarnio and Sylvia (née Bachman) Aarnio, lyric soprano and graduate of the Juilliard School of Music.

Paul Aarnio holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree (with honors), from Cornell University and is a retired Air force pilot.

Peggy Willis-Aarnio and her sister Sheila Willis-Kleiman had a lifelong collaboration of teaching, performing, choreographing their entire lives together.

They began their beginning ballet classes at the same time, attended Texas Christian University together, shared an apartment and taught ballet together to earn their way through college.

1982

Willis-Aarnio choreographed more than 80 original ballets, including Dracula: The Ballet which aired on PBS in 1982.

She created over 70 original ballets and modern ballet works for Texas Tech University students.

She created two Classical Ballets for the Saint-Petersburg State and Academic Ballet (under the direction of Askold Makarov) and their guest soloist, Prima Ballerina Assoluta, Galina Mezentseva.

1992

In 1992, she received an invitation to complete her advanced level pedagogical studies in Teaching Method at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.

1998

In 1998, she received the "Woman of Excellence Award in the Arts" from the YWCA, City of Lubbock, Texas.

1999

She created the Diamond Ballet in 1999 for the St. Petersburg Ballet Theatre of Konstantin Tatchkine.

2000

Other works by Peggy Willis-Aarnio are, Beethoven: A Classical Inspiration (2000) The Bluegrass Fantasy (2005) and The Seven Last Words of Christ (2007) (based on the production by Iris Hensley) choreographed for the Saint-Petersburg Classic Ballet Theatre of Marina Medvetskaya.

2016

Peggy Willis-Aarnio died on January 9, 2016, three days before her 68th birthday from undisclosed causes.

2018

Sheila Willis Kleiman formed the Performing Arts Cultural Exchange a 501(c)3 Foundation in 2018 to continue Peggy Willis-Aarnio's teaching legacy which provides scholarships in her name called The Peggy Willis Classical Ballet Scholarship Award Program.

Willis-Aarnio received Texas Christian University's Alfie Special Achievement Award for her choreography in Gilbert and Sullivan's ballad operetta, Patience.