Zanfretta, Francesca (1862–1952)

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Zanfretta, Francesca (1862–1952)

Italian ballet dancer and teacher. Born 1862 in Milan, Italy; died June 4, 1952, in London, England; m. Charles Lauri (acrobat).

Important teacher of Italian ballet technique, made performance debut at Deutschtheater in Prague, Czechoslovakia (c. 1878); appeared at Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, Belgium; appeared at London's Covent Garden, presumably with Royal Italian Opera, which was then in residence; remained in London, performing at The Empire and The Prince of Wales Theatre, often en travestie; danced role of Mephistopheles in Katti Lanner's Faust opposite Malvina Cavallazzi; on retirement (1915), taught classes in London for many years.