Francesca Baron (she/her) established herself as a free-lance choreographer, performer, and educator in Chicago upon graduating cum laude from Lindenwood University with B.A. degrees in Dance and Psychology. She deepened her relationship with movement by obtaining her M.F.A degree in Choreography + Performance from Smith College. Recognizing that the body can inhabit many states of being, she is intrigued to push the boundaries of kinetic movement. Intellectually she values complexity and connection. Physically she values big sweeping movement, finding rigor to yield both an empowering and freeing sensation.
Francesca has commissioned work for Lindenwood University, College of Dupage, New Dances 2019, and Esoteric Dance Project. Other original works have been presented at Side Street Studio Arts, Still Inspired, DanceChance, Inaside Chicago Dance, Midwest Dance Collective, and festivals including American College Dance Association, Chi Dance Fest, Going Dutch Festival, A New Light, and the School of Contemporary Dance & Thought.
She believes it is imperative to practice on-going research in the field of dance to enrich her artistic practice. Her curiosities has prompted her to attend numerous intensives including: One Body, One Career with Anouk van Dijk, b12 contemporary festival, The American Dance Festival, Movement Archery with Tom Weksler, Ferus Animi / Terra Nova, and FLOCKworksdance.
Francesca’s performance credits included dancing for companies: Project 606, Trifecta Dance Collective, Inaside Chicago Dance, Leverage Dance Theater, Visceral Dance Chicago, Still Inspired, Stilgo Dance + Tech and in works by Ohad Naharin, Lar Lubovitch, Bebe Miller + Angie Hauser, Jenna Riegel, Joy Davis, Christina Robson, Rebecca Lemme, Brian McGinnis, and Roderick George.
Francesca resides in Western Massachusetts. Currently she is an Adjunct Professor at Keene State College and Smith College teaching Modern/Contemporary Dance, Performance Process, and Dance History. She is a rotating instructor teaching community classes at the School for Contemporary Dance & Thought in Northampton, MA.