- Born
- Birth nameAntonia Franceschi
- Height5′ 6½″ (1.69 m)
- Antonia Franceschi was born in Ohio, on 30th March 1960 but raised in New York City. Antonia started her career performing in 'Grease' and then playing a lead in "Fame" Hilary Van Doren. She was then chosen by George Balanchine for The New York City Ballet. Prior to that she danced in Markarova and Company partnered by Sir Anthony Dowell. She moved to London where she had works created for her by Mark Baldwin, Wayne McGregor, Karole Armitage, Michael Clarke, and Anthony Van Laast among others. She won a Time Out Award for ''Outstanding Achievement In Dance''. Antonia created and performed the lead role in the dance-play ''Up From The Waste'' at London's Soho Theatre to critical acclaim. Leading from this Antonia collaborated with Tal Rosner to create a a short film ''There'' and then with Mark Baldwin and Ballet Black in the production of POP8 for The Lion and The Unicorn Theatre. Antonia has featured in several dance films for British TV including 'Point Blank', 'Frankenstein', and 'Ecco' and the Merchant Ivory film 'The Golden Bowl'. Antonia performed 'The Vagina Monologues' at The New Ambassador's Theatre. Antonia produced four programs of The New York Ballet Stars which performed at The Queen Elizabeth and Royal Festival Halls, and then toured the Sintra and Harrogate Festivals. Antonia regularly teaches for The Royal Ballet, Rambert, Random, and The Richard Alston Dance Companie. Antonia has choreographed several works for Ballet Black, The New York Theater ballet, and Ballet New York.She has been interviewed on Radio 4 and for the book 'Balanchine Then and Now'. Her ballet 'Kinderszenen', just received praise from The New York Times (April 2014).- IMDb Mini Biography By: Antonia Franceschi
- Antonia Franceschi was born in Columbus, Ohio on 30th March 1960, moved to Michigan and started ballet there at age 4. Moved to New York City at age 8 to study ballet with Margaret Craske. This tiny blonde went to ballet class and discovered a talent for flight. For years she kept her dancing secret from her school and neighborhood friends. She won a place at the High School of Performing Arts to study acting, which launched her into the movies Grease and Fame. She performed in Natalia Makarova's season on Broadway and joined New York City Ballet, where she danced for twelve years. Then she moved to London where she was guest artist with several choreographers, wrote and performed "Up From The Waste" in the West End, made some fine art films, and choreographed ballets for Ballet Black among other companies.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Betti Franceschi
- SpousesMark F Norton(May 1995 - present) (1 child)Gerhardt Koch
- Franceschi was only 16 when she was cast in Grease (1978). She remembers that the choreographer, Patricia Birch, had just singled her out for attention at the audition when an assistant director announced: "Anyone under 18, leave now." Franceschi recalls that she "just kept dancing." She ultimately got the part, but had to obtain a fake birth certificate in order to fool the studio's legal department.
- Graduated from the High School of Perfoming Arts in New York City.
- Her father, Gilbert Franceschi, was an art director.
- A dancer off-screen, she is currently a London-based choreographer and expecting her first child.
- Her son, Michael Thomas Rodenburg Franceschi, was born on July 4th, 2003, in London.
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