Bio content provided by individual
Teacher Bio
Francis Lawrence was born in Melbourne, Australia, and studied with Lorraine Backbourn. He then moved on to the prestigious Australian Ballet School, where he graduated with a Diploma in Dance. His professional career has seen him grace the stages of renowned companies including, the Australian Ballet Company, Grand Rapids Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, and the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
...Read moreFrancis Lawrence was born in Melbourne, Australia, and studied with Lorraine Backbourn. He then moved on to the prestigious Australian Ballet School, where he graduated with a Diploma in Dance. His professional career has seen him grace the stages of renowned companies including, the Australian Ballet Company, Grand Rapids Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, and the Dance Theatre of Harlem.
Francis has showcased his artistry in a diverse repertoire, from classical masterpieces such as Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Raymonda, and The Nutcracker, to contemporary works by esteemed choreographers such as George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, Twyla Tharp, Jiri Kylian, Jose Limon, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, Ulysses Dove, Glen Tetley, Lew Christensen, John Neumeier, Peter Martins, Olivier Weavers, Mario Radacovsky, Donald Byrd, Darrel Grand Moultrie, Robert Garland, and Andy Blakenbuehler.
His versatility extends beyond ballet; he has performed in four musicals, including the Broadway National tour and Australian tour of An American in Paris by Christopher Wheeldon (Tony winner), New York City Center Encores show, I Married An Angel by Joshua Bergasse (Emmy winner), The Wiz by Gerry McIntyre with Broadway Sacramento, and most recently, West Side Story by Parker Esse with The Muny. Francis has also appeared in two movies, Tyler Perry & Debbie Allen's A Jazzman's Blues, and Hallmark's Sugarplum Twist, as well as a TV episode of Law & Order. Francis currently works as a freelance artist and dedicated teacher in New York City.
Read lessClass Descriptions
Teaching ballet is a passion of mine, and I enjoy creating classes that challenge and strengthen dancers to perform at their best. My approach involves building muscle, coordinating arm movements for port de bras, and testing rhythmic patterns, among other helpful techniques.
Having grown up learning the Cecchetti method and achieving my advanced exam, I later studied the Vaganova Method at The Australian Ballet School graduating with a Diploma. Since coming to the United States, I've been exposed to the Balanchine style, and I consistently incorporate all these influences into my classes.
Inspiring up-and-coming dancers through teaching is incredibly rewarding to me, and I'm passionate about helping them reach their full potential.