Francesca Bertoni

Francesca Bertoni’s journey into Pilates began in London during her professional dance career, when she discovered Pilates as a complementary form of training. Experiencing firsthand the profound physical and mental benefits of the method, she was inspired to deepen her knowledge and pursue a career as a Pilates teacher.

Francesca undertook her initial teacher training at the Royal Academy of Dance in Battersea, London, qualifying first as a Mat Pilates Instructor before completing her Equipment certification under the guidance of Amit Younger. Following her qualifications, she taught in a number of respected studios throughout England before relocating to Florence, Italy. There, she collaborated with an orthopaedic surgeon, integrating Pilates into rehabilitation and postural care programmes.

Driven by a commitment to excellence and lifelong learning, Francesca continued to expand her knowledge through advanced study with respected second-generation teachers, including Jennifer Stacey, as well as specialised courses and workshops throughout Europe.

A pivotal moment in Francesca’s professional journey came in 2010, when she met Deborah Lessen at a workshop in London. Francesca immediately recognised in Deborah a teaching philosophy that resonated deeply with her. Impressed by Deborah’s clarity, precision and depth of knowledge, she knew she had found an approach to Pilates with which she felt a profound connection.

This meeting marked the beginning of a close and enduring professional relationship. Francesca has undertaken ongoing mentoring and coaching with Deborah and has participated in her training programmes and workshops in New York, throughout Europe and online. She has also worked alongside Deborah as an assistant in workshops and teacher-training programmes, further deepening her understanding of Deborah’s approach and the lineage from which it comes.

As the owner and director of Pilates Performance Studio in Florence, Francesca has hosted numerous workshops and teacher-training programmes led by Deborah, creating valuable opportunities for teachers in Italy and across Europe to experience Deborah’s work firsthand.

Over the years, Francesca has also had the privilege of training and mentoring many teachers in Deborah’s approach, including the teaching team at Pilates Performance. She is passionate about preserving and sharing the depth, integrity and lineage of the Pilates method, while supporting teachers to understand how this work can be meaningfully applied to contemporary bodies and teaching environments.

Francesca is deeply honoured to share Deborah Lessen’s work with her blessing. Through her teaching, mentoring and education, she continues to contribute to the development of Pilates teachers and to the ongoing transmission and evolution of this important lineage.