Fely Franquelli (November 11, 1916 – January 8, 2002) was a Filipino dancer, choreographer, and actress. Franquelli became known in the international dance scene in the 1930s.
Early life and career Franquelli, who was of Filipino, Spanish and Italian descent, was born in Manila. She attended school in the Philippines and Hong Kong before immigrating to the United States, where she attended the University of Southern California. The widow of a former Army surgeon, Fely was buried at Arlington National Cemetery beside her husband after he death aged 85.
According to Salvador P. Lopez, she was a dancer who exuded the poise of a polished professional with the smoothness, the grace and the skill that come with confidence in oneself and with certitude of knowledge. She had a brief film career and her most known role was in Back to Bataan as Dalisay Delgado, the former fiancée of Captain Andrés Bonifacio. Delgado appeared to be a collaborator with her radio broadcasts of Japanese propaganda, which she secretly used to relay sensitive information to the Filipino resistance movement.
Choreography Listed below are some dances that Franquelli created: Hindu Temple Dance White Eagle (Navajo) Chinese Legend (about the goddess of beauty Ming Toy from Hainan) Tabu (African) Sacro Monte (a paso doble) Bulerías (a flamenco from Málaga) Gypsy Fortune Teller (a zambra in Granada) Jarabe (Mexican) Le Singe Qui Danse (a monkey dance) The Beast Planting Rice Tinikling
Filmography Back to Bataan (1945) as Dalisay Delgado Cry 'Havoc' (1943) as Luisita Esperito The Fallen Sparrow (1943) (uncredited) as Gypsy Dancer The Leopard Man (1943) (uncredited) as Rosita
References Villaruz, B.E.S. "Altar" in CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art, 1st ed., Vol. 5, 208. Philippines: CCP Publications Office, 1994.
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