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Over the years, those who have enjoyed performances of The State Ballet have had the additional pleasure of watching the remarkable career of Ana. Born in Split, Croatia, while her parents, Herci and Myles Marsden, were leading members of the Croatian National Theatre, she came with them to the United States when only six months old. Taught by her parents, Ana's ballet training began at age two. She became a trainee at State Ballet at age eleven, and when she was thirteen, she became a member of the company. Later, she was privileged to be accepted at The Royal Ballet School in London, England, official school of The Royal Ballet. When she returned to Lincoln, she became a soloist, then principal dancer with SBRI.

Ana has danced major roles in numerous productions of State Ballet, such as in "Graduation Ball," as Dewdrop of "Nutcracker Suite," Blue Bird Pas de Deux of "Sleeping Beauty," and as Queen Myrtha in "Giselle," to name a few. She has danced the leading female roles in both "Giselle" and "Coppelia." To quote newspaper critics from Narragansett Times - "...a perfectly lovely dancer to watch...” South County (paper)- "Ana is lithe and elegant and lights up on stage like a natural-born dancer. The Providence Journal - "As Swanhilda, Ana is alluring. She has a lovely oval face and limpid extension of line and characterization." New England Entertainment Digest -"Ana...put forth a beautiful performance to the famed Moody Blues song, Nights in White Satin. Her beauty, grace and personality entertained the audience." In 1970, Ana toured Croatia with the State Ballet. Under the direction of her godfather, the late Sir Anton Dolin, Ana (then a teenager), was honored to be chosen by Dolin to dance the role of Grahn in "Pas de Quatre" (performed for the first time in Rhode Island in 1975). Also, Ana was chosen to be on the cover of the compact disc "Phantomgreen" (based on the story THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA), which was premiered by The State Ballet with Ana dancing the lead. She has appeared as a principal dancer in “Faust,” “Aida,” "Carmen," "La Traviata," "The Merry Widow" and "Oklahoma" with the Providence Opera Theatre. With the Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra, she danced in "Carmina Burana." She has performed with the Atlanta Ballet and was a guest artist with the New England Ballet.

Ana has also choreographed several pieces for SBRI. "Ballet Ireland," a dancer and audience favorite, has been performed at many events and venues throughout RI. In December of 2003, Ana received a Merit Grant from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts for a Fellowship Grant in Choreography, a highly competitive award, based solely on the quality of the work of an artist and the artists’ contribution to life in the state. With her grant, Ana premiered her creation, "Ballet West" in May of 2004. This original one-act ballet with traditional and ethnic folk dance takes you on a journey through the early 1900's, a short story about the wild, west at the turn of the century. In June 2006, at The State Ballet‘s "Partner with the Arts" Wine Tasting Soirée, Ana premiered her ballet "Goddesses of the Vine". The following year, Ana premiered "Autumn Leaves" with Mike Lyons and the Blue Moon Orchestra. During Spring 2007, Ana was able to bring back one of her most humorous pieces "Ballet of the Clowns." Most recently, with a grant from RISCA in 2008, she created an original one-act story ballet "Gansel & Hetal, A Sweet Family Fairy Tale," based on the story of Hansel & Gretal.

In addition to being SBRI’s executive director and resident choreographer, Ana is a lead instructor for Herci Marsden's Brae Crest School of Classical Ballet in Lincoln. She teaches master classes at several area schools in RI and MA, and is recognized as RI’s "Children's Ballet Mistress" for visiting professional ballet companies. Ana enjoys teaching ballet in the program "Artist in Residence." She is a recipient of SBRI’s Partner With the Arts Award, and serves on the SBRI Board of Directors. Although a dedicated artist, Ana is also a selfless wife and mother. She resides in Lincoln, Rhode Island with her husband, Gregory Fox. They have two grown children, Shana and Brandan Cane.