Burbank dance legend dies

Lolita Harper

RANCHO DISTRICT -- Peg E. Bell, owner of the Garri Dance studios, died

Friday in her Burbank home. She was 74.

Bell was a member of the dance community nearly all her life, as both

a professional dancer and instructor -- giving her last lesson only a

month ago.

She died from a rare form of lung cancer, although she never smoked a

day in her life, said her son, Gary.

Bell was born in Texas and raised in a house full of dancers. The

family moved to Hollywood in 1938 and opened the first Garri Dance

studio. Soon after moving to California, Bell landed her first dancing

role, in the 1939 Bing Crosby movie “Star Maker,” at the age of 10.

She appeared in about 30 movies and danced with stars including Sally

Rand, Shirley Temple, the Andrews Sisters and Red Skelton. During World

War II, she performed as a Garri Girl, dancing for U.S. servicemen at USO

shows around the world.

Bell opened the Garri Dance Studio in Burbank in 1957 and retired from

professional dancing two years later. For more than four decades, she

taught dance to members of the Burbank community, including football

players, police officers and former councilwoman Susan Spanos, said

Marybeth Costanzo, Bell’s daughter.

“She’s been a successful businesswoman, always running the studio for

the community’s family,” said Costanzo, who will now run her mother’s

studio. “Her students didn’t just learn dance, they learned confidence

and manners and grew up to be really successful adults.”

Bell also donated her time, teaching dance to deaf and mentally

challenged children.

She is survived by her daughter, Marybeth Costanzo; sons Gary and

Ronald; and grandchildren Maryanne and Michael Costanzo and Matthew Bell.

A private service will be Jan. 6 at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills. An

open house will follow at 1:30 p.m. at the family house. For information,

call 500-7700.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Peg E. Garri

Memorial Dance Scholarship, which will be used to provide scholarships

for students with financial need. Donations can be made out to the Garri

Dance Studio and sent to 1719 W. Verdugo Ave.