Attilia Radice (1914 – September 14, 1980) was an Italian ballerina and choreographer. She performed as prima ballerina at La Scala in Milan and later as prima ballerina assoluta at the Rome Opera Ballet, where she created roles in works choreographed by Aurel Milloss.
Biography
Radice was born in Taranto, Italy, in 1914. She studied ballet at the La Scala Theatre Ballet School under Enrico Cecchetti until his death in 1928, and continued under Lucia Fornaroli, graduating in 1932. She joined the La Scala company the same year, making her début in Léonide Massine's Belkis, regina di Saba (music by Ottorino Respighi). She danced in ballets of the 1930s including Franco Vittadini's Vecchia Milano and Riccardo Pick-Mangiagalli's Il carillon magico. Her elegant, expressive style—particularly noted for her port de bras—led to her promotion to prima ballerina at La Scala.
From 1935 to 1957, Radice danced at the Rome Opera Ballet as prima ballerina assoluta, frequently partnering with principal dancer Guido Lauri and also with Ugo Dell'Ara. She created roles in ballets choreographed by Aurel Milloss, including Bolero (1943), The Miraculous Mandarin (1942), Petrushka (1939), The Rite of Spring (1940), The Creatures of Prometheus (1940), The Prodigal Son (1941), Orpheus (1947), and Estro arguto (1956). In 1945, she also began choreographing.
After retiring from the company in 1957, Radice became director of the ballet school of the Rome Opera, a position she held until 1975. In this role, she was effective in adopting and teaching Cecchetti's method, training numerous dancers who later achieved national and international recognition, including Elisabetta Terabust, Diana Ferrara, Stefania Minardo, and Tiziana Lauri.
Attilia Radice died in Capranica, Italy, on September 14, 1980.
