Gisella Caccialanza (September 17, 1914 – July 16, 1998) was an American prima ballerina and teacher who danced in theater, opera and film productions.
[4][5] During her three-year studying period at the opera house, she won a bronze, silver and gold medal during her final examinations at the end of the year.
[5] Caccialanza earned the awareness of ballet dancer Enrico Cecchetti, and he spent his final years improving her ability;[5] he made her his goddaughter at her confirmation ceremony,[4] after he was granted permission for it by the Pope.
[3] This included performances in vaudeville houses, in motion picture prologues, the Grauman's Chinese Theatre and Radio City Music Hall.
Caccialanza performed five times a day at Radio City Music Hall, and ballet dancer Serge Lifar persuaded her to audition for a new school run by George Balanchine.
[4] The Dance, Music, Recorded Sound, and Theatre Divisions of the New York Public Library holds a collection of letters and manuscripts relating to her life from 1926 to 1972.