Francesca Harper
Director / Choreographer
Francesca Harper is an acclaimed Artistic Director, Movement Director, and Choreographer whose work seamlessly blends artistry, innovation, and activism. As the Artistic Director of Ailey II, she has infused the company with her visionary leadership, preserving its rich legacy while introducing dynamic contemporary programming. Harper has collaborated with groundbreaking artists such as Carrie Mae Weems, Anna Deavere Smith, Nona Hendryx, and Nick Cave, and was a key contributor to the Bessie Award-winning production of “The Let Go” at the Park Avenue Armory. She is the Founder of The Francesca Harper Project and FHP Collective, platforms dedicated to creating transformative and inclusive performance experiences. A passionate educator, Harper has served as a Professor at Juilliard and NYU, and an Associate Professor at Barnard College, and she also contributed to the Ailey/Fordham BFA program.
Harper’s prolific choreographic career includes The Reckoning, a powerful work commissioned by Ava DuVernay as a film and later presented as a live performance at The Guggenheim Museum, commissioned by Works and Process/LaunchPad. Her repertoire also includes Carnival of the Animals, a multidisciplinary collaboration with Wendy Whelan, Mark Bamuthi Joseph, and Sozo Artists; Search for Spring, performed at Lincoln Center; and The Dream Machine, an immersive experience with Nona Hendryx, presented by Lincoln Center. Additionally, her works have been presented at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and commissioned by renowned dance companies such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, BalletX, the Los Angeles Dance Project, and Richmond Ballet.
Harper’s creations reflect her deep commitment to storytelling, social impact, and innovation. With a career that bridges the worlds of visual art, theater, and contemporary dance, Harper continues to inspire audiences worldwide and shape the future of the performing arts.
Filmmaker / Producer
Francesca Harper’s work in film exemplifies her multifaceted artistry and her ability to seamlessly merge storytelling and movement. She was commissioned by Ava DuVernay to create The Reckoning, a powerful film that explores themes of justice and resilience. Harper choreographed a film for BalletX and created a celebrated work for Jacob’s Pillow. Her cinematic achievements include winning the Videodance Prize in New York City, producing a reading for the film Lyrical, starring Phylicia Rashad and written by Carter Stewart, and serving as a Directorial Consultant on multiple films in collaboration with Derrick Belcham for Princeton University. Additionally, Harper collaborated with the Whitney Museum on a short film featuring the music of Nicholas Britell and Radiohead, further showcasing her innovative approach to storytelling. Across her filmography, Harper continues to push boundaries, blending her expertise in dance, direction, and production to craft works that resonate deeply and inspire audiences across disciplines.
Performer / Artist
Francesca Harper’s career as a performer spans a wide range of acclaimed roles across dance, theater, and film, showcasing her remarkable versatility. She performed with Ballet Frankfurt under the direction of William Forsythe, where she honed her technical prowess and became known for her expressive artistry. Harper’s stage career also includes performances with Dance Theatre of Harlem. In the theater, she appeared in productions such as All Shook Up(understudying Sylvia), Fosse, The Frogs (portraying Virilla the Amazon), The Producers, Sophisticated Ladies, and Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, for which she earned the prestigious title of Best Actress in a Musical by Broadway.com. Harper starred as Sally Hemings in Anna Deavere Smith's play House Arrest at the Mark Taper Forum. She also performed in Sleep No More as Hecate, originating the character, and portrayed Jazz Singer Cecilia Robertson. Harper toured internationally with her one-woman show The Look of Feeling, and co-wrote the play 50 Minutes with Harriet and Phillis in collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Margo Jefferson. She also performed in Grace Notes and Past Tense, created by MacArthur Genius Awardee Carrie Mae Weems, as well as in the CA Lyons Project as Amandla, and as Mrs. Poindexter in Langston in Harlem. Harper was part of the original cast of The Color Purple, understudying the roles of Shug and Squeak, and also performed as Helene in Sweet Charity. She participated in a workshop of Dreamgirls as Deena Jones. Her multifaceted experience as a performer, combining technical skill with deep emotional resonance, has made her a beloved figure in both the dance and theater worlds.