Celia Franca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Celia Franca
CC OOnt
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Celia Franks
25 June 1921 London, England
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| Died | 19 February 2007 (aged 85) |
| Alma mater | Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
| Known for | Founder of The National Ballet of Canada |
| Awards | Order of Canada Order of Ontario |
Celia Franca (born Celia Franks, 25 June 1921 – 19 February 2007) was a very important person in Canadian ballet. She helped create The National Ballet of Canada in 1951. She was also its artistic director for 24 years, guiding the company to become world-famous.
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Early Life and Dance Beginnings
Celia Franca was born Celia Franks in London, England. Her family came from Poland. She started dancing when she was only four years old. She earned scholarships to study at the Guildhall School of Music and the Royal Academy of Dance.
She began her professional dance career at age 14. In 1936, she joined Marie Rambert's ballet company. She later changed her last name to Franca.
A Career in Ballet
By the age of 20, in 1941, Celia Franca was a lead dancer with the Sadler's Wells company. In 1947, she joined the Metropolitan Ballet. There, she worked as a soloist and ballet mistress. This meant she was a main dancer and also helped train other dancers.
She also started creating ballets for television. She made the first two ballets ever shown on the BBC. These were Eve of St. Agnes and Dance of Salomé.
Founding Canadian Ballet
After the Metropolitan Ballet closed, Celia Franca continued her television work. In 1950, she came to Canada for a festival. A group of ballet fans in Toronto asked her to start a new classical ballet company.
Celia Franca worked very hard to make this happen in just 10 months. She even worked as a file clerk at Eaton's department store to support herself. She found and trained dancers and organized a summer school. She also put together an artistic team.
Her new company, The National Ballet of Canada, had its first show on 12 November 1951. In 1959, she and Betty Oliphant also started the National Ballet School of Canada. This school helps train dancers for the company.
Later Contributions
Celia Franca continued to be involved in the dance world. In 1979, she became a Co-Artistic Director at The School of Dance in Ottawa. This school helps provide professional dance training.
She lived in Ottawa and served on many important boards. These included the board of governors for York University. She was also on the board of directors for the Canada Council. Later, she joined the board for the Canada Dance Festival Society.
Franca kept working with the National Ballet. She helped update some of their shows, like Offenbach in the Underworld in 1983. She also helped stage The Nutcracker. She returned to the company for its 35th Anniversary Gala Performance.
Awards and Recognition
Celia Franca received many honors for her work. In 1967, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honors. She was promoted to Companion of the Order in 1985.
In 1994, Franca received a Governor General's Performing Arts Award. This award celebrates a lifetime of artistic achievement.
Celia Franca passed away on 19 February 2007, at the age of 85. She died in an Ottawa hospital after a year of poor health.
Images for kids
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Celia Franca, founder of The National Ballet of Canada
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Celia Franca in the 1940s
