CURRICULUM VITAE & INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITIONS

 

CURRENT TITLES & DIRECTING POSITIONS

​

• Founder, Artistic Director & CEO — DAP Festival - Danza in Arte a Pietrasanta - (Festival under the official patronage of the Italian Ministry of Culture, Region of Tuscany, and City of Pietrasanta; recognized for its interdisciplinary integration of dance, sculpture, and sustainability).

• President & Legal Representative — Cultural Association New Dance Drama A.P.S.

• Artistic Director — Concorso Internazionale David di Michelangelo – Premio Danza Città di Firenze, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (2026).

• Associate Artistic Director — TROY-DAP International Dance Experience, Troy University (USA, 2026).

 

AWARDS, DIPLOMATIC ENDORSEMENTS & HONORS

​

• Nijinsky Award for Best Dancer & Choreographer — Kyiv National Opera House / Ministry of Culture of Ukraine (Serge Lifar International Ballet Festival, 2003).

• Official Letter of Appreciation — Ambassador Phillips, U.S. Embassy in Italy, acknowledging artistic achievements and contributions to international cultural diplomacy (2016).

• UNESCO International Dance Council (CID) Endorsement — For European Youth Ballet IV Tour (Hamlet, Memories of a Geisha, 2002).

• Historical Book Listing — Cited as Guest Artist of the Martha Graham Dance Company alongside Rudolf Nureyev, Maya Plisetskaya, and Mikhail Baryshnikov in Marian Horosko's "Martha Graham: The Evolution of Her Dance Theory" (Da Capo Press, NYC).

 

USA PERFORMANCE & HISTORICAL REPERTOIRE (1985–1993)

​

• Martha Graham Dance Company (New York City): Performed at City Center and on national tours in historic reconstructions (Celebration, Steps in the Street, Panorama, American Document, Clytemnestra, Maple Leaf Rag) under Martha Graham and Yuriko Kikuchi.

• Martha Graham Ensemble (New York City): Soloist dancer in leading roles including the Lead in Acts of Light, Red Girl in Diversion of Angels, and Mary in El Penitente.

• Pearl Lang Dance Theater (New York City): Soloist dancer performing original repertory works by Pearl Lang.

 

INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC RESIDENCIES & GRAHAM RECONSTRUCTIONS

​

• The Boston Conservatory (USA): Official Regisseur / Assistant to Yuriko for Martha Graham's "Diversion of Angels" (Bank of America Celebrity Series / Martha Graham Resources).

• Skidmore College (USA): Assistant to Susan Kikuchi for Graham's "Steps in the Street".

• Accademia d'Arti e Mestieri dello Spettacolo - Teatro alla Scala (Milan): Guest Faculty for Modern & Contemporary Dance (Professional Ballet Program).

• Royal Danish Ballet School (Copenhagen): Annual Guest Teacher and Choreographer (Springtime, Kongelig Balletskoledag, Gamle Scene).

• University College of Dance (Stockholm, Sweden): Guest Lecturer in Graham Technique & Methodology.

• Balettakademien, Folkuniversitetet (Göteborg): Chair of Contemporary Dance and Choreography Department (1997–2005).

• Dutch National Ballet (Amsterdam): Assistant to Yuriko for Martha Graham's "Diversion of Angels" (1993).

 

SELECTED INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS & CHOREOGRAPHY

​

• Taipei Performing Arts Center (Taiwan): Dramaturg for "Madame Butterfly / Echo" (2024).

• Italian Embassy in Moscow (Russia): Choreographer and Artistic Contributor for the Dance & Music Gala Evening (2019).

• Royal Danish Theater (Copenhagen): Original choreographies Springtime, Labyrinth, and Moonwaves.

• National Opera House of Ukraine (Kyiv): Choreography for Macbeth and original solos for the Nijinsky Festival.

• Teatro Alighieri (Ravenna): Direction and choreography for Origins (Stagione di Danza).

• Davis Theater & Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (USA): Creek Indian Odyssey, Soldier Song, The Nutcracker, and Hearts and Souls of Dixies.

 

INTERNATIONAL JURY & DIPLOMATIC PRESIDENCIES

​

• Novosibirsk, Russia: President of the Jury, VII International Contest for Choreographers and Ballet Masters (2012).

• Kemerovo State University of Culture & Arts (Siberia): Guest Professor, Accredited Lecturer & Jury Member under the auspices of the Russian Ministry of Culture (2012–2019).

• Italy Jury Appointments: MAB Dance Competition Milan, Expression Dance Competition Florence, Italian Dance Award Todi, DAS International Competition Naples.

PRESS & CRITICAL ACCLAIM

 

"The superb dancers here were Kathy Bucellato, Lone Kjaer Larsen, Rika Okamoto, Daniela Stasi, Myra Woodruff, and Adria Ferrali."

— The New York Times (Anna Kisselgoff)

 

 

"Entirely in the spirit of her great matriarch, Martha Graham... her dance moves from the soul and the movements of the powerful and elegant Florentine are of a sculptural sophistication."

— Der Spiegel (Berlin)

 

 

"A dazzling challenge... not aimed at religion but at the media, which sacrifice truth to entertainment."

— Corriere della Sera (Italy)

 

 

"Adria is a talented, gifted performer, teacher, and choreographer, and I am proud of her achievements over the years."

— Yuriko Kikuchi (Martha Graham Dance Company Legend)

 

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

​

• Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance (NYC): Advanced Trainee Graduate Dancer, Teacher, and Choreographer Certification (1993).

• Pilates Network (Florence): Comprehensive Certified Pilates Instructor Diploma (Matwork & Apparatus: Reformer, Cadillac).

• Liceo Classico Michelangelo (Florence): Humanities Diploma.

 

LANGUAGES

​

• Italian (Native) | English (Fluent) | German (Proficient)