54+
Years of Experience
5+
Students Taught
1
Followers
❖ Guru Parampara ❖
View Full Parampara TreeAbout
Penny Furgerson, born Penny Rosemary Thomas in Karachi, Pakistan, in 1936, is a dancer, choreographer, and the co-founder of the Gateway Dance Theatre. She attended school in Bombay, India, where she received early training in South Indian classical dance, specifically Bharatanatyam. Furgerson also pursued academics, graduating from the University of Bombay…
Journey Timeline
1936
Born Penny Rosemary Thomas — Born in Karachi, Pakistan.
1961
Married Lee B. Furgerson, Jr.
1972
Co-founded Gateway Dance Theatre — Founded with her husband, Lee B. Furgerson, Jr., in Des Moines, Iowa.
1975
Performed "Curried Soul" — Her first choreographed piece, blending Bharatanatyam with jazz.
1998
Lee Furgerson died — Her husband and co-founder of Gateway Dance Theatre.
2019
Received Immigrant Entrepreneur Leadership Award — Awarded at the Immigrants Entrepreneurs Summit in Ankeny, IA.
2022
Gateway Dance Theatre's 50th Anniversary — The institution celebrated five decades of operation.
Photo Gallery
Photos will appear here.
Video Library
Performance videos will appear here.
Signature Performances
Signature repertoire pieces will be showcased here.
Performance Map
A world map of performances will appear here as tours are recorded.
Awards & Honors
- 2019 · Immigrant Entrepreneur Leadership Award — Immigrants Entrepreneurs Summit
Media Coverage
- Gateway, Not Gatekeep: Penny Furgerson's Gateway Dance Theatre of Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa Women's Archives
Compiled from public sources and/or self-reported by the artist — not independently verified by NatyaNetwork. Is this you? Claim this profile to manage or correct it. See our Terms.