Dean Badolato Papers

Collection

Identifier: Dance-MS-Badolato

Staff Only

Scope and Content of the Collection

Materials related to Dean Badolato’s achievements and work as a dancer, choreographer, and director. The collection contains publicity materials such as brochures, clippings, press releases, and reviews about him and the productions he danced in, choreographed, and/or produced. The majority of the collection includes photographs of him and the productions he danced in as well as programs related to these productions. Additionally, there are items related to his days as a student in high school and college. There are two VHS tapes with footage of him and his brother Bill dancing. Finally, there are a few artifacts: his shirt from his first ballet class and two name-badges (one from “A Chorus Line” and the 1980 Milliken Breakfast Show). His brother Bill is also a dancer and choreographer and they collaborated together often, so there are materials related to him throughout the collection.

Dates

Creation: 1959-1999
Creation: Majority of material found within 1960 - 1986

Creator

Badolato, Dean (Person)

Language.

Materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The Dean Badolato Papers are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Dean Badolato Papers are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.

Biography of Dean Badolato

Dancer, choreographer, and director.

Dean Badolato was born on June 6, 1952 to Salvatore Vincent Badolato (March 10, 1921 – July 15, 2018) and Violet M. Badolato (née Holl; December 28, 1922 – November 24, 2002) in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a village in DuPage County and a suburb of Chicago. He and his older brother, William “Bill” Badolato are first-generation Italian-Americans.

Dean studied ballet in Chicago with Bentley Stone and Walter Camryn at the Stone-Camryn School of Ballet. One the most notable roles he performed in as a student at the Stone-Camryn School of Ballet was in “Dr. Eli Duffy’s Snakeroot.” Dean also danced the leading role of the Nutcracker Prince in Ruth Page’s memorable productions of “The Nutcracker” in the late 1960s. He graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School in 1970 and attended the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dean moved to New York City in the early 1970s and during his time there he performed with the Robert Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. He also performed in musicals and starred in several Broadway productions: “A Chorus Line,” “The Most Happy Fella,” “The Pirates of Penzance,” “On Your Toes,” and “Zorba.” He and Bill directed and choreographed over 20 productions together. Dean also danced in the 1979 Milliken Breakfast Show which also featured Ginger Rogers and Chita Rivera, and the 1980 Milliken Breakfast Show which featured Ray Bolger and Gregory Hines.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

Additional Description

Abstract

Materials related to Dean Badolato, a choreographer and director born and raised in the Chicagoland area. Includes clippings, letters, photographs, programs, VHS tapes, and artifacts.