A young Karen Kain hid in the school’s toilet stalls to escape Celia Franca’s painful training. | photo: courtesy National Ballet

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dancer, choreographer, teacher, visionaryCelia Franca1921-2007

by Frances Rooney | March 3, 2008

A man would have been called hard headed, focused, larger than life, terrifying, adored. In an article written by Paul Gessell, Celia Franca was called “two words ... Both rhyme with rich.” Later, she was also called hard headed, focused, larger than life, terrifying, adored. Despite her look of delicate femininity, Celia Franca was tough. Because of her work, ballet and the all-important teaching of teachers of ballet have found a strong and vibrant place in Canadian culture.  read more