Kerri DeNies
Ballet Instructor

Kerri DeNies received her training with Connecticut Concert Ballet under the direction of Artistic Directors, Wendy-Fish Lawrence and David Lawrence. At a young age, Kerri was diagnosed with a hip-disease known as Legg Calve Perthes which prevented her from walking, let alone dancing. In order for Kerri to pursue her dreams as a dancer, she wore a full body leg brace and received weekly physical therapy for two years. After overcoming the disease, Kerri went on to perform for thirteen consecutive years in the Connecticut Concert Ballet's annual production of The Nutcracker and their Spring Performance, as well as performing as a guest artist with the Windsor Ballet and the Rhode Island Moving Company. Her roles include Titania in Midsummer Night's Dream, Prologue in Les Sylphide, as well as Snow Queen, Dew Drop Fairy and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Kerri began as a teacher's assistant at age eleven and joined the faculty of the Connecticut Concert Ballet at age sixteen. Her passion for teaching children kept growing while working at Washington Elementary School's afterschool program, Windsor Ballet, and Leaps and Dreams Performing Arts School. After moving to San Diego in 2007, Kerri taught with the California Ballet and now teaches with the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet. Her goal is to one day have a creative movement and dance program for children who struggle with physical diseases to teach them that they can overcome anything they put their mind to.