Redondo Ballet: A Level of Excellence

FRANCESCA STERN, LISTD

Francesca Stern has been awarded the prestigious Licentiate from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in London. She is a member of this internationally respected society. Under Francesca’s tutelage, students are able to be entered into the exam process with the Imperial Society to further their dance education journey. She was classically trained in ballet in the Royal Academy of Dance and by Patricia Prime in the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in London, England. Her passion for dance led her to America, where she studied with such visionaries as Stanley Holden and Margaret Hill

After over 30 years of teaching in England and America, Francesca realized there was a need for focused teaching, rooted in classical technique, so she opened her own studio, Dance 1. Her philosophy is to train dancers with discipline, exposing them to the classical elements of ballet and jazz, feeding in all genres, and blending in an unwavering support system. Dance 1 has become an elite training studio: winning a Studio of Excellence Award and winners of multiple 1st place overall awards in all genres.

In 2014, Francesca founded Redondo Ballet with a vision of creating a home for the art of dance in the South Bay. She is the Co-Artistic Director and Co-Choreographer. Redondo Ballet has grown beyond expectations into a company that offers audiences a beautiful, unique experience. The goal is to be a stand-out amongst the companies in the area, and they have exceeded that objective with the partnership with Ovation TV.

DONNA PERKINS

Donna is a multiple award-winning Producer, Director, Choreographer and Executive who has achieved vast credits in television and film over the last 30 years. She is the Co-CEO and Vice President of 3 Alliance Media (content providers of scripted, non-scripted, lifestyle and branded entertainment). Donna went from studying English at UCLA, to choreographing around the world, to being an accomplished actress and director, to being an Executive at a production company. Donna now brings her creative eye to the job of Co-Artistic Director and Co-Choreographer of the Redondo Ballet Company. She brings all her skill and knowledge to directing the live, large-scale professional Redondo Ballet productions and films, and she brings her business acumen to the role of President of the Board of Directors. Donna was instrumental in forging the partnership of Redondo Ballet with Ovation TV.

Donna has choreographed numerous music videos and commercials for Tostitos, K-Mart, Body Glove, Fila and Mattel, to name a few. She was even nominated for a Fosse Award for excellence in commercial choreography. She studied dance in all its form at UCLA, the Dupree Dance Academy and with such dance luminaries as Vince Patterson and Claude Thompson.

Donna won the 2019 Travel Media Golden Mic Award for Best Feature Broadcast for andiamo! UPTOWN – the travel adventure series that she executive produces and is the host. She had an article written about her in Viva Glam Magazine where they stated, “We are inspired by strong women who serve as boss babes and have well-rounded skills in every aspect of their lives, and Donna is just that woman.”