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I was born and raised in a small, pretty town by the
Mediterranean, in the south of Italy. As a teenager I
modeled in fashion shows for several Italian Companies. I
graduated from the Oxford Institutes of Foreign Languages in
Lecce (my hometown), a private school that gave me a solid
education taught me discipline and method and gave me the chance
to travel all over Europe, experiencing different cultures.
During those years I particularly enjoyed studying psychology,
philosophy, art history, European literature and theater,
classical and contemporary. I became fluent in English, French
and German and started studying Japanese.
Immediately after graduating, I worked for five years for the
CNR (National Research Council), as a translator. For three
years I attended University in a field that I really loved:
Preservation of Ancient Cultures (in the form of monuments,
books, languages and any form of art). While attending that, I
spent several months digging a prehistoric site in the south of
Italy, learned about ancient languages (mostly Latin),
philology, electronic and manual archive of cultural data, art
history and architecture.
I put my studies on hold when I moved to the US to pursue my
dance career.
I started studying ballroom dancing, competing in both the
Standard and Latin divisions, when I was 15. I started it as a
hobby but it was soon going to become my career, I loved it so
much.
In Italy I became finalist in the National Championship and
quarter finalist in all the major international competitions in
the International Standard division. I participated to several
dance related TV shows, including a dance show for the opening
night of the Olympic Games. I spent most of my dance training
years living between Italy and England.
I moved to the US in 2000. For 4 years I was a finalist at the
US National Championships and all major national and
international competitions in the US. I was quarter finalist in
the Open Professional International Standard Championships in
Blackpool, UK and International. I was a finalist in the Rising
Star division of the International Standard Competitions of
Blackpool, UK and International. I was invited to represent the
US at the World Championships in 2003.
I retired from my professional competitions in March 2004
because of a health problem that I have now cured.
I now have become a judge for dance competitions and a teacher.
At present I coach many Pro/Am finalists as well as many other
amateur and professional couples.
In 2004 I joined HB Acting Studio in New York City with the goal
of learning more about the art of performing, hoping to become a
better and more complete teacher. And (why not?) maybe pursue
another artistic career!
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