Elisa Toro Franky

Exceptional Dancer and Educator

Elisa Toro Franky will be honored by Westchester Ballet Company on June 13, 2024, at its annual spring Benefit Gala.

Elisa is a professional dancer, educator, and choreographer, and bilingual voice-over artist based in New York City. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Elisa trained with Cuban mentors and traveled twice to Cuba for international ballet intensives and competitions. She came to the U.S. in 2004 to train at the Miami City Ballet School. She later danced with the Washington Ballet Studio Company, the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble, and the New Jersey Ballet. Elisa currently performs with FJK Dance and Accent Dance NYC, as well as works as an instructor with the Misty Copeland Foundation. Elisa has guested with Westchester Ballet Company since 2016 in the Nutcracker roles of Snow Queen and Coffee from Arabia.

In addition to her impressive achievements as a dancer with a career now spanning more than two decades, Elisa is also widely recognized for her impact as a dance educator. Her innovative teaching methods and mentorship have inspired countless aspiring dancers.

Elisa is committed to breaking down barriers and opening up access to classical ballet in communities historically overlooked and underfunded. Creating context is key to her methodology, ensuring that her students understand that ballet is a language that is open to all.