Amy Arnaz: The Beautiful Story of Desi Arnaz Jr.’s Wife, Her Family, and the Life She Built Through Dance

A small dance studio in Boulder City, Nevada, meant a great deal to Amy Arnaz. It was where children learned their first ballet steps, parents watched their little ones grow, and young performers prepared for their big moments on stage. For Amy, this was everyday life. She spent years teaching dance and making sure children had a place where they felt welcome.

Many people recognize her name because she married Desi Arnaz Jr., the son of famous television stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. But Amy had a career of her own. She worked as a professional ballet dancer, ran a dance school, helped develop a ballet company, and wrote books for children.

Born on September 12, 1951, Amy lived most of her adult life in Nevada. She died on January 23, 2015, leaving behind a family and a community that remembered her with affection.

Quick Bio

Field	Details
Full Name	Amy Laura Arnaz
Birth Name	Amy Laura Bargiel
Date of Birth	September 12, 1951
Place of Birth	Chicago, Illinois, USA
Nationality	American
Profession	Ballet Dancer, Dance Teacher, Author
Famous For	Wife of Desi Arnaz Jr. and Ballet Career
Husband	Desi Arnaz Jr.
Children	Haley Arnaz (Daughter)
Education	San Diego State University
Notable Work	Dance Etc., Boulder City Ballet Company
Books	The Magic Tutu, Juliana Cuddles, Clara’s Nutcracker
Date of Death	January 23, 2015
Age at Death	63 Years

Who Was Amy Arnaz?

Amy Arnaz was an American ballet dancer, teacher, and children’s author. Her birth name was Amy Laura Bargiel, and she was born in Chicago, Illinois.

Although she became part of a famous entertainment family, she preferred spending much of her time working with young dancers. She was closely associated with Dance Etc., a dance studio in Boulder City, and the nonprofit Boulder City Ballet Company.

Her students knew her as Miss Amy. She became an important part of many local families’ lives, especially those whose children attended her classes year after year.

A Childhood That Led Her Toward Ballet

Amy grew up in a family with no widely documented connection to Hollywood. Her parents were Charles Bargiel and Libby Kral Bargiel, and she had a brother named Tom and a sister named Lisa.

She began taking ballet lessons when she was around seven years old. Her early instructor was Christina Carson, an English ballerina who introduced her to classical dance.

Those lessons became the beginning of a lifelong interest. Amy continued practicing as she grew older and eventually decided to pursue dance professionally.

There is little public information about her childhood outside ballet. However, her later career shows that she remained committed to an interest that had started when she was very young.

How Amy Arnaz Became a Professional Dancer

Amy studied at San Diego State University and trained with the San Diego Ballet Company. She later traveled to New York, where she attended the Joffrey School of Ballet.

Working with different dance teachers gave her valuable experience. She learned the importance of timing, movement, and discipline, all of which became useful when she started teaching.

After returning to Nevada, she joined Vassili Sulich’s Nevada Dance Theatre. There, she gained experience performing with a professional company.

Performing ballet was demanding work. Dancers had to spend hours rehearsing and preparing for shows. Amy’s years onstage helped her understand what students needed when they began learning the same skills.

Why Boulder City Became Important in Her Life

Amy moved from Las Vegas to Boulder City in 1979. It was a smaller place than the busy entertainment center nearby, but it became the town where she built much of her career.

That same year, she took over the dance studio known as Dance Etc. The school offered ballet, tap, jazz, and other classes for children and adults.

Over time, the studio earned the nickname the little pink studio. Families in Boulder City became familiar with the building, and many children spent years attending lessons there.

Amy enjoyed working with students of different ages. Some were serious about ballet, while others simply wanted to learn something new.

She gave children a chance to practice, make friends, and become comfortable performing in front of people.

The Dance Teacher Everyone Called Miss Amy

There was something special about the relationship Amy developed with her students. Many remembered her for the way she welcomed children into the studio and made them feel comfortable.

Teaching young dancers required patience. Some children picked up movements quickly, while others needed several attempts before getting a step right. Amy understood that learning took time.

Former students later recalled her warm smile and friendly personality. Even people who had not attended her classes for years remembered the way she treated them.

For Amy, teaching was not only about producing talented ballet dancers. Her studio was also somewhere children could enjoy themselves and feel part of a group.

Amy Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr.’s Marriage

Amy married Desi Arnaz Jr. on October 8, 1987. Desi was already known for his acting and music career.

He had grown up in a famous family. His parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, were among America’s most recognizable television entertainers, particularly because of their work on I Love Lucy.

Amy’s background was quite different. She had spent years developing her dance career and teaching children rather than working in television.

Their shared interest in performing arts became an important part of their marriage. They worked together on several projects in Boulder City, including the ballet company and local theatre activities.

The couple remained married until Amy’s death in 2015.

Amy Arnaz’s Daughter and Family Life

Amy had a daughter named Haley Arnaz, who also developed an interest in dance. After Amy married Desi Arnaz Jr., he adopted Haley.

Growing up around ballet classes and theatre productions gave Haley plenty of opportunities to become involved in the performing arts.

She later worked as a choreographer with the Boulder City Ballet Company. Mother and daughter were therefore connected through both family and creative work.

Amy also used memories of Haley’s childhood as inspiration for stories she wrote for younger readers.

Although the Arnaz family had connections with Hollywood, much of their everyday life was centered on Boulder City.

Bringing the Boulder City Ballet Company to Life

Amy wanted young dancers to experience a real stage performance, not just practice inside a studio.

During the late 1990s, she and Desi helped establish the Boulder City Ballet Company, a nonprofit organization created to support dance performances in the community.

The company offered students opportunities to appear in productions such as The Nutcracker. Children could learn routines, wear costumes, and perform in front of an audience.

Preparing these productions involved considerable work. Teachers organized rehearsals, parents helped with arrangements, and young dancers spent weeks getting ready.

One example came in December 2008, when the company’s performances of The Nutcracker at the Boulder Theatre sold out. Haley Arnaz also appeared in the production.

For Amy, events like these brought together her professional experience and her interest in helping young performers.

A New Beginning for the Historic Boulder Theatre

Amy and Desi also became involved in restoring the Boulder Theatre, a historic building in the center of town.

The theatre had previously shown movies, but changing times had reduced its role as a local entertainment venue. The couple purchased it in 1997 and worked on turning it into a suitable place for live performances.

The building required renovations to support ballet, concerts, and other stage productions.

After the improvements, it became home to the Boulder City Ballet Company. Local families could watch their children perform without traveling to Las Vegas.

The theatre also welcomed other events, giving Boulder City another place to enjoy music and live entertainment.

Amy Arnaz’s Children’s Books

Besides teaching ballet, Amy enjoyed writing stories for children. Her books included The Magic Tutu, Juliana Cuddles, and Clara’s Nutcracker.

The Magic Tutu developed from one of the original ballets she created for young students. She later turned the story into a children’s book.

Her 2009 book Clara’s Nutcracker was part of the Little Haley Stories series. It presented the familiar Nutcracker ballet in language that young children could understand.

The book also included photographs, helping readers follow the story through pictures.

Amy connected her writing with her work at the ballet company. Proceeds from Clara’s Nutcracker were intended to support the organization and its activities.

Her Retirement and Community Recognition

After many years running Dance Etc., Amy retired from the studio in 2006.

The school was purchased by Anna McKay, who had joined Dance Etc. as an instructor in 1998. Under her ownership, the studio continued offering dance classes while maintaining its connection to the community.

Amy’s work also received recognition outside Boulder City.

In May 2006, Congressman Jon Porter honored her contributions in the Congressional Record. The tribute highlighted her teaching career, professional dance training, and work with the Boulder City Ballet Company.

It was a meaningful acknowledgment of the time she had spent helping local children learn the performing arts.

Amy Arnaz’s Final Years and Death

In January 2013, Amy suffered a seizure while preparing for knee surgery. Doctors discovered that she had a brain tumor.

The diagnosis began a difficult chapter for her family. She lived with the illness for approximately two years.

On January 23, 2015, Amy Arnaz died at the age of 63, surrounded by her family in Boulder City.

Her passing brought an emotional response from friends, former students, and local residents.

Outside the Boulder Theatre, people left flowers, messages, and signed ballet slippers. A banner expressed the affection many felt for their former teacher.

In March 2015, residents gathered at Bicentennial Park to remember her. Pink balloons carrying personal messages were released during the tribute.

Her husband also prepared a video presentation featuring memories of her life.

What People Remember About Amy Arnaz

Amy is remembered for the years she spent teaching children and supporting local performances.

Her influence was especially clear among people who had attended Dance Etc. Some remembered learning their first ballet positions. Others recalled performing in The Nutcracker or taking part in recitals at the Boulder Theatre.

The studio continued after her retirement, allowing new generations of students to learn dance in the same community where she had worked for decades.

Her story also shows that a connection to a famous family does not have to define someone’s entire life.

Amy had her own interests, made her own career choices, and spent many years doing work that mattered to the people around her.

Conclusion

Amy Arnaz will always have a connection to the famous Arnaz family through her marriage to Desi Arnaz Jr. Yet her years in Boulder City tell a much more personal story.

She began ballet as a little girl and later built a career teaching the art she loved. Her dance studio, ballet company, children’s books, and work with the Boulder Theatre all grew from that early interest.

When Amy died in 2015, the community remembered her with flowers, messages, and ballet slippers. Those simple gestures showed how much she had meant to the people who knew her.

Her life remains an important part of Boulder City’s performing arts history.

(FAQs)

Who was Amy Arnaz?

Amy Arnaz was an American ballet dancer, dance teacher, and children’s author. She was also the wife of Desi Arnaz Jr. and helped establish the Boulder City Ballet Company.

What was Amy Arnaz’s real name?

Her birth name was Amy Laura Bargiel. She was born on September 12, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois.

How long was Amy Arnaz married to Desi Arnaz Jr.?

Amy married Desi Arnaz Jr. on October 8, 1987. They remained married for more than 27 years, until her death in January 2015.

Did Amy Arnaz have any children?

Yes. Amy had a daughter named Haley Arnaz, who later became involved in ballet and choreography.

What caused Amy Arnaz’s death?

Amy Arnaz died from brain cancer on January 23, 2015. She was 63 years old and had been diagnosed with a brain tumor approximately two years earlier.