……BY BILLY SUTER……
THE dance world has lost a bright, twinkling light – news broke this morning of the death in America last night of Durban dance teacher and choreographer Denise Britz. She was 75 and was diagnosed only last month with metastatic breast cancer that had spread to her liver and bones.
She is survived by her two children – Matthew, a playwright in London, and Sarah-Jane, who also danced but is now training and working with horses in South Africa – and a grandchild, Dylan.
Britz, famous as a dancer, teacher, choreographer and for the many dance cabarets she produced at now-defunct Durban venues such as Ruby Tuesday, Millionaire, 7th Haven and The Cellar, often with then-husband Don Clarke, had been based in recent years in the US. Until recently she was teaching her first love, ballet, at Miller Street, a dance studio in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Michelle Soutier, a close friend, who runs the US studio at which Britz taught, wrote on Facebook: “Tonight the world lost the greatest ballet teacher ever!”.
She added about Britz: ¨”It has been an honour to care for her over this journey. She never complained and told me she had never felt more loved than she did because of the huge support given to her during this time from her friends, family and dance family. God bless you my sweet friend, and rest now.”
Since her cancer diagnosis a few weeks ago, Britz was showered with huge support from friends worldwide, a Facebook page, Miss Denise’s Warriors, having been set up for friends and colleagues to help guide her through her daily medical treatments with prayers and fond memories. A fund to assist with her mounting medical expenses was started online and soon raised $20 000 worldwide.
Social media was quickly abuzz after her passing, with longtime friend, Johannesburg-based choreographer and former dancer, Bryan Hill, writing on her Facebook page: “Very saddened to wake and see that Denise Britz has passed. The countless dancers and performers whose lives she touched will remember you fondly, Britzie, and our love and condolences go out to Matthew, Sarah-Jane and your family.”
Former husband Don Clarke, in a moving Facebook entry reflecting on their time together, wrote: “Our 17 years together were both tempestuous and terrific, depending who was mixing the potion, but there was never any shortage of passion bound by very real love”.
Friend Brian van Rheede wrote: “There’s a deep ache in my heart, a lump in my throat and I want to scream – death came suddenly to take our lifelong friend. Denise Britz. Thank you God for the joyous childhood memories, the excitement of youth and the memories we shared on our weekly chats.”
Cape Town dancer and choreographer Didi Moses wrote: “A beautiful soul has departed. May she rest in peace”.
In the fund-raising drive online it was stated that Britz’s dance career included feature roles in ballet and modern companies as well as roles in musicals in South Africa, Europe and touring companies to the Far East.
During her career, she continued training in the Vaganova method of ballet. Her career included classes with Rudolph Nureyev, Galina Somsova, Gillian Lynee, Andre Prokovski, Maryanne Lane, Matt Mattox, and numerous others in London and Paris.
In South Africa, she owned and operated her own dance studio where she provided instruction in all disciplines of dance.
Britz performed and choreographed for cabarets, cruise liners, musicals, beauty pageants, fashion shows, operas, pantomimes and corporate functions in all parts of the world.
Prior positions included choreographer for Magic Life der Club, an Austrian-based chain with hotels in Turkey, Greece, Spain, Egypt, Tunisia, and Bulgaria. Her job required her to design costumes, sets and lighting for shows in 21 different hotels.
.....SoSuterBill..... 
Dancing is a very special world!
You will be missed, but always remembered in that special world
RIP Denise Britz
🌹🌹🌹
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Greatly saddened by Denise Britz’s death. I remember, when I worked for The Daily News’s TONIGHT supplement, reviewing many of her shows at Ruby Tuesday and Millionaire in Durban in the 1980s. She was an absolute sweetie who always had me eating out of her hand.
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She loved to dance!!!!
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Denise had a life long impact on my family. My daughter grew to love ballet under Miss Denise’s kind, funny and loving care. I walked her precious dog Amisha, when my daughter had dance privates and am so thankful to have hugged her a few months ago in the grocery store. She will always hold a special place in my heart. So much love and memories.
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So very sad. A great loss to the dance world. I saw her shows in Durban shortly after arriving in South Africa. They were world class. She was totally admired and respected
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So very sad. A great loss to the dance world. I saw her shows in Durban shortly after arriving in South Africa. They were world class. She was totally admired and respected
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She will be much-missed. Special lady!
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Denise was a beautiful lady from the first time I met her❤️❤️ Angel gone to soon 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 Love you 😘
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I POSTED THIS ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE THE MORNING OF HER DEATH. Iam heartbroken. I do not know where to begin. My dear friend and mentor Denise Britz has left us. To her children Matthew and Sarah Jane I send my love and condolences, and to her brother Reg, and know that your mum and sister changed so many lives including mine. I was so proud to be a part of her life and her wonderful shows. To my dancing family we have lost an icon a friend and a mother. We were such a united team and those of us who remain must continue to honour her memory. May she rest in peace. You will be forever missed. You were one in a million. Michael de Pinna.
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A one in a million! Impacted so many lives and taught me so much. Denise will be sorely missed!
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Absolutely heartbroken to think this lovely, talented lady is no longer with us. She called me out of the blue during lockdown last year and we had a delightful recall of all the great times we worked together. Fashion shows/Modelling competitions/Car launches – Denise’s excellent choreography brought out the best in the whole creative team! I can hear dancing on the ceiling already…
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Absolutely heartbroken to think this lovely, talented lady is no longer with us. She called me out of the blue during lockdown last year and we had a delightful recall of all the great times we worked together. Fashion shows/Modelling competitions/Car launches – Denise’s excellent choreography brought out the best in the whole creative team! I can hear dancing on the ceiling already…
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Darling Denise, so grateful I saw you at Alvon’s place 3 years ago. I hold unto all the beautiful memories we shared. You were always so special, you will never be forgotten. RIP precious Denise! Aleeta Guastella.
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So many memories to be treasured!
I know you’ll keep dancing on the other side! ❤️
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Ms. Denise was a mentor a friend and someone who I thought of as a grandmother I danced under her for 4 years before I had to quit and in that time she had taught me so much I went from ballet 1 to ballet 4 in that span of time and I was thinking about going back when I heard the news I was heartbroken 💔and may she rest in all of are heart rest in piece ms.denise.
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Dearest Denise, how happy I am seeing you at Alvon’s 3 years ago. Thank you for being such a special lady in my life! I will never forget the beautiful memories we shared. RIP precious Denise!
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