Frances Ann Wessells (née Davies; August 18, 1919 – December 31, 2024) was an American dancer, choreographer, and Associate Professor Emerita who was the founder of the dance department at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).
[2] Wessells was born Frances Ann Davis on August 18, 1919, into a family of professional musicians whose careers derailed with the demise of vaudeville and the coming of talkies.
[5] In 2003, Wessells and Robbie Kinter performed for students of geriatric medicine in the medical school of St. Louis University.
[6] Dancer Chris Burnside, who taught at University of California, Los Angeles and served as Chair of the Department of Dance and Choreography and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs in the VCU School of the Arts, began his career studying and dancing with Wessells at VCU.
Wessells received the award along with Marie Goodman Hunter, an "African-American actor, singer and educator who helped break down racial barriers in teaching and performance in central Virginia.
Jason Akira Somma, her 31-year-old dance partner, confirmed that the last of her three performances in Paris brought the audience to tears.