Celia Franca
Celia Franca (aka Celia Franks ; born June 25, 1921 in London ; † February 19, 2007 in Ottawa ) was a Canadian choreographer, ballet dancer and teacher of English origin.
Franca began her ballet training at the age of four and studied at the Guildhall School of Music and the Royal Academy of Dancing . She made her debut in London in 1936, performed a. a. with the Ballet Rambert , the Sadler's Wells Ballet and the Metropolitan Ballet and choreographed a. a. two ballets for BBC television .
In 1951 she came to Toronto at the suggestion of Ninette de Valois and founded a ballet group there, later the National Ballet of Canada , which she directed until 1974. In 1959 she founded Canada's National Ballet School with Betty Oliphant to train the next generation for her ballet . In total she realized more than thirty ballet performances, in which she also involved international dancers and choreographers. She toured Canada, the United States, Mexico, Japan and Europe with the National Ballet and has also choreographed performances for CBC television .
In 1974 Franca moved to Ottawa with her husband, but continued to be active as a dancer and teacher. She danced at a gala performance of the National Ballet in 1977 and taught in China in 1978 and 1980. From 1978 until her death, she worked at The School of Dance in Ottawa. In 1985 she was named Companion of the Order of Canada , and she was awarded the Order of Ontario for her services to dance .
Web links
- Library and Archives Canada - Calebrating Women's Achievements - Celia Franca
- Celia Franca in the Internet Movie Database (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Franca, Celia |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Franks, Celia (real name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Canadian choreographer, ballet dancer and teacher |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 25, 1921 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | London |
| DATE OF DEATH | February 19, 2007 |
| Place of death | Ottawa |