Popularly known for his choreography on STRICTLY COME DANCING especially the Charleston routine that earned Chris Hollins & Ola Jordan - AKA “Team COLA” - Five 10’s and the win in the Strictly finals, Ryan Francois a 2 time winner of the U.S. Open and American Swing Dance Championships is the foremost authority in the US & UK on all dances connected and related to the Jazz & Swing era - including, The Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Jive, Charleston, Tap, Be Bop and Blues. He has most recently finished working on THE STRICTLY TOUR for PHIL McINTYRE and choreographing the Jive & Lindy Hop for the UK series of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE his unique and very modern approach to traditional styles of dance are very much in demand.
Ryan is the founder and Artistic director of the dance Company Swing X - Treme a fusion based group specialising in Ryan’s favourite dance style, The Lindy Hop.
Ryan’s best works to date are for the BROADWAY SHOW “SWING”nominated for 7 Tony Awards - including best choreography, The Disney Motion Picture “Swing Kids” Starring Christian Bale & Robert Sean Leonard and “Do You Come Here Often” winner of the Olivier Award for best entertainment. Other credits include
Strictly Dance Fever Seasons 1 & 2 _ BBC Television Featured Performer & Choreographer
Dancing With The Stars _ ABC Network - Guest Artist
Britain’s Got Talent _ITV - Choreographer ‘Candyman’ _ Swing X-Treme and The Irresistible’s
The Tony Awards _ The cast of “Swing” at Radio City Music Hall - Choreographer and Performer.
In a career that has spanned over 20 years his favourite moments are many
“Idlewild” with OutKast for it’s innovation of fusing Hip Hop with Swing.
“Dudley Moore A Man For All Seasons” at Carnegie Hall especially meeting and working with Hollywood Legend Lauren Bacall.
“The Polar Express” Robert Zemeckis for the simple pleasure of being a dancing Elf.
The 2000 Tony Awards.
& His Guest performances with Jenny Thomas for “Dancing With The Stars” and Elton John’s 60th Birthday.
A strict professional and consummate perfectionist Ryan knows that whatever he has done in his career and will do in the future he’ll probably always be best known for those 5 tens!
