Io Donna spoke to one of our favorite Italian, (semi) retired ballerinas, NYC-based Alessandra Ferri. Since her last official performance three years ago (she still consults with ballet organizations) Ferri's dropped the tights but is almost always in black leggings and t-shirts, a casual uniform that she could wear 24/7. ("Potrei essere vestita cosi' tutti i giorni e quasi sempre lo sono. E' una mise con cui posso andare ovunque"). She confessed her personal likes are scalding-hot baths in silence ("Un bel bagno con acqua molto calda, a una temperatura che mi cuoce la pelle"); her husband's (photographer Fabrizio Ferri) pasta sauce full of herbs, fennel, special almonds, capers, and rosemary ("Un sugo davvero da sogno"); and bike rides or walks in the Northern fields of Central Park ("A New York adoro la parte nord del Central Park, un po' piu' misteriosa e meno affollata").
But she also gave a shout-out to her NYC fans and recalls with fondness her favorite audience: on her last appearance at The Metropolitan Opera house three years ago, they gave her an applause that had a different sound -- an applause that was full of intense gratitude by an appreciative American audience.
Ferri is clearly loving her time away from the stage. Frankly, she deserves it.