Fana Tesfagiorgis
Later in my career, I felt this urge to explore more of my artistic voice outside of dance. I just started opening all these possible doors in my heart, such as singing and acting. However, it was hard to juggle that while in the Ailey Company full time. As you know, the schedule for Ailey is crazy. It’s 5-9 months out of the year, with all day rehearsals. Ailey was my dream job and company, and I felt scared leaving a secure job. It was a hard decision to make. I realized if I wanted to pursue musical theater I really had to just do that and the time came and I made the leap. I took that leap of faith to leave Ailey. I am so grateful to Ailey for all it taught me, but knew it was time to leave.
Well, it’s definitely put a pause on things. As far as the My Fair Lady tour, we are paused, and it has been confirmed that we will not be performing for the next month or so. We don't have a definite start date, and I feel the whole country is waiting. We are expected to continue because we have dates booked until 2021. I feel like we are going back to work, but there is no rush. I'd rather be safe than sick.
Fana Tesfagiorgis (Madison, WI) is a graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program in Dance, with a minor in journalism. She began training at Ballet Madison, under the direction of Charmaine Ristow, and attended Interlochen Arts Academy High School. Ms. Tesfagiorgis also trained at summer and winter intensives at Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and Lar Lubovitch Dance Company. Professionally, she has danced with Ailey II, Brian Harlan Brooks’ Continuum, Alenka Cizmesja’s Art DeConstructed, Dance Iquail, Freddie Moore’s Footprints, and Samuel Pott’s Nimbus Dance Works. Ms. Tesfagiorgis has been a rehearsal assistant for Hope Boykin, Earl Mosley, Pedro Ruiz, Matthew Rushing, and Sylvia Waters. She joined the Company in 2013.