11 Facts About Alessandra Ferri

1.

Alessandra Ferri OMRI was born on 6 May 1963 and is an Italian prima ballerina.

2.

Alessandra Ferri danced with the Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and La Scala Theatre Ballet and as an international guest artist, before temporally retiring on 10 August 2007, aged 44, then returning in 2013.

3.

Alessandra Ferri was eventually granted the rank of prima ballerina assoluta.

4.

Alessandra Ferri began studying ballet at the La Scala Theatre Ballet School, later transferring to the upper school of the Royal Ballet School.

5.

Alessandra Ferri represented the Royal Ballet School in the 1980 Prix de Lausanne, winning a scholarship which enabled her to continue studying at the school.

6.

In 1985, Alessandra Ferri left the Royal Ballet at the request of Mikhail Baryshnikov to become a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre, under Baryshnikov's own direction.

7.

Alessandra Ferri stated that she needed a more rigorous training program that the company could provide.

8.

In 1992, Alessandra Ferri became a Guest Star of American Ballet Theatre and began a very close collaboration with La Scala Theatre Ballet, becoming recognised as Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the company.

9.

Alessandra Ferri returned to dance after retirement in 2013, starring in The Piano Upstairs at Spoleto.

10.

Alessandra Ferri is best appreciated in story ballets by Kenneth MacMillan, Roland Petit, John Cranko and John Neumeier.

11.

Alessandra Ferri danced with important male dancers: Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov in the 1987 film Dancers, Anthony Dowell, Patrick Dupond, Peter Schaufuss, Maximiliano Guerra, Laurent Hilaire, Manuel Legris, Julio Bocca, Herman Cornejo, Marcelo Gomes, and Carlos Acosta.