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Staging Celia Franca

Celia Franca sitting in between two ballet dancers on a US tour, 1956. All three women are wearing light colours. The photo is in black and white.

Howard Marler, Celia Franca with Artists of the Ballet on a US Tour, August 1956, gelatin silver print. Courtesy of the National Ballet of Canada Archives 

Staging Celia Franca curated by Sofia Beraldo explores Celia Franca’s (1921–2007) legacy and iconic facial silhouette. Which are both impossible to avoid when roaming the headquarters of National Ballet of Canada (NBoC) and Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto. Born and raised in London, England, Franca moved to Canada at the age of 29 to found the NBoC in 1951. She served as the institution’s first Artistic Director, a post she held for 24 years. Franca and her signature look—thin drawn on eyebrows, pale face makeup, and red lipstick with her hair either in two braids or tied back in a chignon—became a personification of the company itself.

Franca’s decision to have a signature look was no accident and required dedicated upkeep. Born as Celia Franks to a working-class family of Polish Jewish immigrants in east-end London, Franca undoubtedly understood how to use dress and her status as a ballet dancer as tools for upward mobility. Although influenced by patrons who could purchase and wear couture, Canadian writer Carol Bishop-Gwyn noted: “She dressed in the garb of a Rosedale matron,” Franca had her own sense of style heavily influenced by her involvement in ballet.

Through archival images from The National Ballet of Canada’s Archive and Dance Collection Danse, this exhibition lifts the curtain on Franca’s off-stage wardrobe from 1951–1959. During this period, Franca was at the helm of the NBC as Artistic Director and, simultaneously served as a dancer by necessity while the NBC was in its infancy. Her dual role was reflected in her wardrobe, as she retained balletic influences—with the help of Christian Dior’s ‘New Look’ silhouette—yet cleverly used her clothing to separate herself from the rest of the NBC’s dancers.

Displayed at The Image Centre from January 14, 2026 to February 21, 2026. 

 

Installation photos © Daniel Smith, The Image Centre, 2026

A wall with exhibition text and four photos to the right. Heading reads “Tour Wear” in bright pink text.
Four black and white framed photos on the wall with accompanying captions.
A wall with exhibition text to the left, two dressed dress forms in the centre: the left one wears a pale pink 1950s dress with a matching bolero, the right wears one of Celia Franca’s ballet costumes. Two framed photos are on the right.
A wall with exhibition text and a white mannequin dressed in a pale pink dress with a bolero to the right. Heading reads “Christian Dior’s New Look” in bright pink text.

1950s Pink Lace Cocktail Dress with Bolero (1996.01.003 AB)