OCU Graduation
December 2023
Francesca danced in her final OCU production, Holiday Spectacular, and completed her Bachelor of Performing Arts in Dance Performance, graduating Summa Cum Laude with Honors. She is now based in NYC, where she continues to pursue her career in entertainment!
Pietà / Suor Angelica
October-November 2023
Pietà, a contemporary opera by Andrea DelGiudice and Jake Landau, made its U.S. premiere at Oklahoma City University’s Wanda L. Bass School of Music, with Francesca as the choreographer. Francesca had the pleasure of collaborating with director Andrea DelGiudice and creating original choreography that supported Andrea’s vision, while also providing movement direction for its twin bill, Suor Angelica.
Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute
Summer 2023
Francesca worked at Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute (SSTI - @summeratssti) as their first social media intern, creating content for their Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. She also took production photos and captured behind-the-scenes moments for their marketing materials, and she got to work with fellow OCU stars, as well as a very special pup named Georgia.
Project 21
April 2023
Project 21, a music composition group at OCU, collaborates with the Ann Lacy School each year to create a dance showcase featuring original music by Wanda L. Bass School of Music students and original choreography by Ann Lacy School students. For this year’s show Renewal, Francesca performed in a piece entitled “Us” (choreographed by Carly Pontius with music composed by Trey Cole). For Project 21’s Fusion 2022, Francesca performed “Tigris” (choreography by Lauren Willman with music composed by Kevin Newsome), and as a freshman in 2021, Francesca choreographed a piece entitled “Song for the Weary” (composed by David Dickinson) for Project 21’s Together, Apart. Visit the Media page to watch her piece.
OCU NYC
March 2023
Every year during spring break, OCU’s alumni chapter in NYC organizes a week-long workshop for students to visit NYC and learn from professionals in the entertainment industry through dance classes, acting and voice workshops, and lectures about living and working in the city. Francesca attended their first in-person workshop since 2019, and she left feeling inspired and empowered by the world of possibilities ahead of her—she even got to see Moulin Rouge! on Broadway, her #1 goal show to perform.
Holiday Spectacular & Move!
December 2022-March 2023
Francesca performed in both of the Ann Lacy School’s mainstage dance productions this school year: Holiday Spectacular last December and MOVE! Dance for the World of Entertainment this spring. Most recently, she was thrilled to perform in a restaging of Bob Fosse’s “Sing Sing Sing” and a piece stylistically inspired by Gus Giordano. The cherry on top was being able to wear her purple LaDuca shoes as a part of her costume for the opening number of MOVE!, set in a 1920’s speakeasy.
Texas! Outdoor Musical
Summer 2022
Francesca began her first professional contract last summer as a dancer in TEXAS! Outdoor Musical, where she performed five days per week in the beautiful outdoor amphitheater in the Palo Duro Canyon. She is grateful to have worked with choreographer Crystal Bertrand and director Stephen Crandall. Francesca also performed as a nymph in the TEXAS Shakespeare production The Tempest, and she co-choreographed and performed as Giulia in the TEXAS opera production The Gondoliers.
Home for the Holidays
December 2021
Francesca had the honor of working with Vincent Sandoval as his choreographer’s assistant for the Ann Lacy School’s Home for the Holidays production. She worked closely with Vincent to assist his rehearsal process and note-taking for his precision line piece and partner dance piece. She is grateful to learn from him and be inspired by his stories from Radio City and beyond.
Making The Impact Podcast
May 2020
Approaching high school graduation during the COVID-19 shutdown, Francesca was selected by Impact Dance Adjudicators to be a guest on their podcast, Making The Impact, for their Senior Feature episode #26. Through this opportunity, she connected with OCU alum Lesley Mealor, who later hosted Francesca for her OCU NYC spring break trip—a full circle moment! Click here to listen to the episode.
