Abigail Francisco graduated from the School of Classical Ballet in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 1974, studying under renowned Brazilian professors Sandra Trintinalle, Dora Fabiao, Ilse Gruber, and Maria Julia da Rocha. Upon arrival in the United States, Ms. Francisco studied at the Washington School of Ballet. At the Ballet Center, under the direction of Irena Prochotsky, Ms. Francisco studied the Vaganova method of Classical Ballet. Additionally, she has taught and performed with the American Contemporary Ballet Company of Washington. Ms. Francisco ’s credentials include participation in seminars in the Classical Ballet Method of dance in both Vaganova and Cecchetti forms.  Ms. Francisco has been owner and Artistic Director of a studio in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil, Montgomery School of Ballet in Silver Spring, Maryland and her current studio, Abigail Francisco School of Classical Ballet in North Beach, Maryland. She has taught for Charles County Community College, Calvert County Parks and Recreation, was Founder and Artistic Director of the Chesapeake Ballet Company, Inc., and the original Artistic Director of the Calvert Artist Showcase. Ms. Francisco is well known for her successful staging of major full-length classical ballets The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Paquita, and Giselle. Additional credits include scenes from La Bayandere, Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, Don Quixote. Her original choreography has become a much anticipated addition to many of her performances throughout the area. Her school was honored in the spring of 2000 to host the filming of an episode of “Cool Women”, a television series developed and produced by Debbie Allen. This year Ms. Francisco was nominated for the 2006 Maryland Governor’s Art Award. During the summer of 2009, Ms. Francisco was the Artistic Director and Stage Manager of the Dancing for Peace event which took place at the reflecting pool in front of the Capital in Washington, DC. In 2011 she staged performances of her Youth Performance Ensemble in San Francisco. Most recently, Ms. Francisco was awarded the Mary D. Harrison Community Service to the Arts award, presented by the Arts Council of Calvert County.