06/02/2025
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Perry Brown, 68, of Amarillo, Texas, died Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
Graveside services will be at 1:00 p.m., Monday, March 24, 2025, at Llano Cemetery with Dr. Howard K. Batson of First Baptist Church officiating. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Perry Brown grew up in Amarillo, Texas. In 1976, he began his acting career with a full scholarship to the Stella Adler Fine Arts Conservatory at the City Center of Music & Drama in NYC. The following year he received a full scholarship to School of American Ballet, during the reign of George Balanchine.
Some of his favorite teachers included Alexandra Danilova, Antonina Tumkovsky, Richard Rapp, Stanley Williams, Melissa Hayden, Richard Thomas, Neil Hess, David Howard, William Burmann, Finus Jhung.
He began his professional ballet career with the original Los Angeles Ballet under the direction of former Balanchine assistant and NYCB Principal Dancer/ Choreographer, John Clifford.
While in Los Angeles, he was asked to choreograph for former boxing middle weight champion of the world, Carlos Palomino, in the production of, "The Time of Your Life" at the Beverly Hills Playhouse while also understudying the role of Harry, starring Ed Begly Jr., Marisa Berenson and Penelope Milford.
He became a principal dancer/soloist in 1982. He was invited to perform at the 2,500th Anniversary of Bavaria. Filmed at the Bavarian Filmplatz in Munich, Germany which premiered on PBS throughout Western Europe on Christmas eve, 1984.
Perry was honored to be invited to represent the United States at the International Ballet Festival in Cuba, where he was awarded an honorary diploma from legendary ballerina, Alicia Alonso, Directora General, Ballet Nacional de Cuba.
Perry enjoyed the honor of learning and working with some of ballet’s greatest, learning the White Swan Pas from legendary Russian ballerina, Natalia Makarova.
He taught, choreographed, and performed across the US, Europe, Cuba and the Far East.
Some of his favorite lead roles included Prince Siegfried in “Swan Lake”. Colas in “La Fille Mall Gardee” and Billee in “Svengali.” Other favorites include Balanchines’ Allegro Brillante, Four Seasons, Western Symphony, Scotch Symphony, Ivesiana.
After dancing professionally for 15 years, he received a BFA and MFA in Ballet from TCU under the direction of James Clouser, Former Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet and David Hochoy, former assistant director of the Martha Graham Dance Company in NYC. At the same time dancing and touring with the Ft. Worth Ballet under the direction of Paul Mejia and Suzanne Farrell.
An accomplished and versatile actor, Perry appeared in over 50 plays across the US. He was the lead actor in the world premiere of “Dabloids” by Leonid Tishkov at Duke University in North Carolina.
In 2018, Perry won Best Actor for his portrayal of Lyman Wyeth in “Other Desert Cities” at the Amarillo Little Theatre.
He loved acting. Some of his favorite leading roles included:
Pale in “Burn This” at Alliance Theatre, Winston-Salem NC.
Lee in “True West” at B&E and Secret Garden, Amarillo, TX.
Kochkaryov in “Marriage” at Atheneum Theatre, Chicago.
Garcin in “No Exit” at Greenview Arts Center, Chicago.
Catfish Charley in “Scarfish Vibrato”, Trinculo in “The Tempest”, Demetrius in “Midsummers Night Dream”, at Hip Pocket Theatre, Ft. Worth, TX.
He worked as an actor, director, and choreographer in stage, film, radio and television for over 50 years.
A highly regarded teacher, mentor and performance coach in dance and theatre for decades, he was affectionately known by his students and colleagues as “Dr. Ballet.”
Perry worked and advised artists from a multitude of professional performance arts backgrounds. He had residencies at Duke University, CSU, and Cal State LA where he taught ballet & choreographed for the LA County High School for the Performing Arts. His Joplin Ballet premiered to rave reviews at the legendary Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA.
His students have worked with The Kirov, Paris Opera Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet, LA Contemporary Dance Company, Pasadena Dance Theater, Los Angeles Ballet, Colombia City Ballet, Pacific Festival Ballet, Nashville Ballet, San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet, Diavalo Dance Company, Cirque Du Soleil, Cirque Biserk, Circus Vargas among many others.
He was a member of the Texas Commission on the Arts, Artist-in-Residence/Arts in Education Program since 1997.
He is survived by his wife Mary and his stepsons Dominic and Connor and his younger brother David.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Perry Brown Benefit Fund at Amarillo National Bank, set up to support performing arts students.
