Once
called “one of the most talented classical dancers
in Europe,” Françoise Mandonnaud Stotts, who
signs her paintings with her theatrical name, “Frenchie,”
was born in Limoges, France, the third of six children from
a remarkable and well known artistic family. She studied
ballet and music from the age of four, and joined the world-
famous Roland Petit ballet company when she was 18 years
old.
It was while on world tour with Roland Petit that she first
visited America, fell in love with its vibrant lifestyle
and culture and promised herself she would someday return
to live and work here.
For the next 20 years, however, her dancing career kept
her traveling around the world, as well as having a busy
career in Paris performing at the Paris Opera, the Monte
Carlo Sporting Club and appearing in the long-running Alcazar
de Paris productions as well as more than 100 TV shows and
movies.
It was not until 1982 that she achieved her youthful ambition
returning to live and work in America as the star dancer
in musical productions that toured the United States, as
well as appearing on Broadway. She capped her dancing career
with an appearance on the national TV show “Star Search”
before beginning another successful career as a freelance
photo stylist in New York City, where for the next 20 years
her work was seen regularly in leading magazines and catalogs.
In
the year 2000 “Frenchie’s” love affair
with America was formally consummated when she became an
American citizen. Another dream come true in 2006 when she
bought a home in Sarasota, Florida where she had frequently
vacationed, and always hoped to permanently live.
|
After ending her career as a photo stylist, she embarked
on a third life as an artist. Her paintings have been exhibited
in galleries, one-woman-shows, art festivals, and art centers
in Williamstown, MA, and in Bradenton and Sarasota, FL.
In 2011, she had her own art show entitled “I Dream
of Paris” at the Alliance Française of Sarasota
and was invited to return for a second art show with more
of her painting of Paris.
“Frenchie the Artist...” is Françoise’s
first book and the story of a colorful and extraordinary
life she fearlessly lived…and is yours to enjoy!
Frenchie's
Dance Résumé
|
