Penny Askew began her serious ballet training with Candace Jones Smalley in Clinton, Oklahoma. She also studied at the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, Ballet West, National Academy of Arts, and The School of Pennsylvania Ballet, and was influenced by many notable teachers during her formative years, including Robert Joffrey, Richard Englund, Lupe Serrano, David Howard, Bruce Marks, and Toni Lander.
For over 25 years, Penny was the Owner/Director of Western Oklahoma Ballet Academy in Clinton and Artistic Director of Western Oklahoma Ballet Theatre, serving as the primary artistic, administrative, and marketing force behind the organizations. She was awarded a Governor’s Arts Award in 2008 for her work in building a high-quality ballet program in rural Oklahoma, and was twice awarded the Regional Dance America/Southwest Stream Award for artistic excellence and service to RDA/SW. From 2015-2020, Penny was the School Director of the Oklahoma City Ballet Yvonne Chouteau School, where she led the school faculty, taught multiple levels, and supervised the professional training programs. She also directed the Oklahoma City Ballet Summer Intensive and the Oklahoma City Youth Ballet, in addition to serving as a Ballet Master for the professional company. Since the fall of 2020, she has been working with Central Oklahoma Ballet Theatre as a consultant and project manager, in addition to serving as rehearsal director and choreographer for COBT's professional company productions. She also is on the faculty of the Ballet Academy of Texas in Coppell. Penny was named Outstanding Choreographer of the Regional Dance America Choreography Conference in both 1996 and 1998, and her works have been commissioned by numerous companies. She holds a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance/Choreography from the University of Iowa. She is also certified in Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum. She has been on faculty at AileyCamp New York, the Glenda Brown Choreography Project, the Central Oklahoma Dance Company Young Dancer and Advanced Summer Intensives, Regional Dance America Festivals, and the RDA National Choreography Intensive, and has guest taught for numerous schools and pre-professional companies. Additionally, she served as the RDA/Northeast adjudicator for the 2017 National Festival in Phoenix, adjudicated RDA/Southwest for its 2022 Festival in Dallas, and adjudicated RDA/Southeast for its 2023 Festival in Montgomery, Alabama. Penny’s students have attained professional careers in ballet, modern dance, and musical theater companies; have received scholarships to professional and university training programs; and have taught and choreographed professionally across the United States and in Europe. Her teaching is grounded in the belief that "ballet lessons are life lessons," and is focused on developing each student's full potential, both in dance and beyond.
For over 25 years, Penny was the Owner/Director of Western Oklahoma Ballet Academy in Clinton and Artistic Director of Western Oklahoma Ballet Theatre, serving as the primary artistic, administrative, and marketing force behind the organizations. She was awarded a Governor’s Arts Award in 2008 for her work in building a high-quality ballet program in rural Oklahoma, and was twice awarded the Regional Dance America/Southwest Stream Award for artistic excellence and service to RDA/SW. From 2015-2020, Penny was the School Director of the Oklahoma City Ballet Yvonne Chouteau School, where she led the school faculty, taught multiple levels, and supervised the professional training programs. She also directed the Oklahoma City Ballet Summer Intensive and the Oklahoma City Youth Ballet, in addition to serving as a Ballet Master for the professional company. Since the fall of 2020, she has been working with Central Oklahoma Ballet Theatre as a consultant and project manager, in addition to serving as rehearsal director and choreographer for COBT's professional company productions. She also is on the faculty of the Ballet Academy of Texas in Coppell. Penny was named Outstanding Choreographer of the Regional Dance America Choreography Conference in both 1996 and 1998, and her works have been commissioned by numerous companies. She holds a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance/Choreography from the University of Iowa. She is also certified in Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum. She has been on faculty at AileyCamp New York, the Glenda Brown Choreography Project, the Central Oklahoma Dance Company Young Dancer and Advanced Summer Intensives, Regional Dance America Festivals, and the RDA National Choreography Intensive, and has guest taught for numerous schools and pre-professional companies. Additionally, she served as the RDA/Northeast adjudicator for the 2017 National Festival in Phoenix, adjudicated RDA/Southwest for its 2022 Festival in Dallas, and adjudicated RDA/Southeast for its 2023 Festival in Montgomery, Alabama. Penny’s students have attained professional careers in ballet, modern dance, and musical theater companies; have received scholarships to professional and university training programs; and have taught and choreographed professionally across the United States and in Europe. Her teaching is grounded in the belief that "ballet lessons are life lessons," and is focused on developing each student's full potential, both in dance and beyond.