Marlene Burnsky

Marlene Burnsky of Reno, Nevada, passed away unexpectedly at St. Mary's Regional Medical Center in Reno on September 26th at the age of 62. 

 

Marlene (Molly) was the youngest of 5 children of the late Paul J. and Marian I. Burnsky of Rockville, MD. She spent her first 6 years of life in Park Forest, IL. Then in 1965 moved to Rockville, MD. It was there at an early age where Molly began a lifelong passion for dance by attending the Dawn Crafton Dance Studio (now the Dawn Crafton Dance Connection) where she performed in Atlantic City, NJ at the Steel Pier.  She graduated from Robert E. Peary High School, and then Towson University, in Maryland with a BA Degree, majoring in Dance and Performing Arts. Molly performed professionally in many areas around the world, from New York City, Australia, and many countries in East Asia. 

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In 1985, she called  the Lake Tahoe area her home. As a gifted professional dancer, she was in dozens of showrooms and cabarets around Nevada. She was integral to huge shows like Splash, and Hello Hollywood, Hello.

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Molly taught dance, yoga, and pilates for 30 years. Later in life, she became a fitness instructor involved with rehabilitating people of all ages that needed physical therapy. She worked at Sports West Athletic Club as the Yoga Director. Certified as a Yoga and Pilates teacher, she continually upgraded her education and was always interested in becoming a better teacher, going to many lengths to learn new techniques, adaptations, and methods.

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Her students often commented that she was the best teacher they’ve ever had because of her uplifting genuine connection to them and the perpetual joyful song in her heart. 

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Aside from her knowledge of the human body in motion, Molly was known for her kind and positive spirit. Her consistent traits were confidence, outgoing, uninhibited, animated and possessing an unbounded cheerful energy. 

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She is survived by her sisters, Paula Behrens of Bradenton,FL, Madeline Macdonald and her husband David Macdonald of Silver Spring, MD, and brother P.J. Burnsky and his wife Donna Burnsky of Olney, MD., two nieces, three nephews, four cousins, and was a great aunt to eleven grand nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her fiancé Chris Hallvik of Reno, NV. Chris and Molly were together 12 years living life to the fullest. They were engaged in 2018 and looking forward to dancing through the adventure of life together, and traveling the world.

Aside from her parents, she is predeceased by her brother Gregory P. Burnsky of Three Rivers, MI. 

If friends were a measure of success. Molly would be a billionaire.

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To keep Molly's legacy alive, donations to DANCE Partnership, International is appreciated. Contact P.J. Burnsky - (pjburnsky@gmail.com) for details on how to donate.  The Molly Burnsky Dance Scholarship Fund will help continue Molly's passion to help needy but talented dancers grow to fulfill their hopes and dreams to be professional dancers and performers.