Francois Perron

Francois Perron is a graduate of the Paris Opera Ballet School, where he
studied under the direction of Claude Bessy. Before moving to the United
States, François danced with La Scala in Milan, where Maurice Béjart
invited him to Brussels as part of Les Ballets Du XXe Siecle. François has
had principal contracts with the Northern Ballet Theatre of England and
Ballet Du Nord.
François is one of the few dancers to have danced with all three major
ballet companies in New York City. When first arriving in the United States,
François joined the Joffrey Ballet in New York City, where he danced
principal roles. He then danced with the New York City Ballet for six years
and briefly with American Ballet Theatre.
Francois has appeared with numerous companies worldwide as a guest
artist and served as Ballet Master for New York Theatre Ballet as well as for
Florence, Italy’s Maggio Danza. In 1997, François accepted a full faculty
position at Studio Maestro (now Manhattan Youth Ballet) and from 2001-
2011 was Managing Artistic Director of the school and youth company.
Regularly invited to guest teach at major dance schools, including Miami
City Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and American Ballet
Theatre’s Studio Company and the upper level at the Jacqueline Kennedy
Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre. François was a faculty member of
The Juilliard School for ten years. François was the ballet coach of the boys of the Tony
Award-winning Broadway show Billy Elliott for its entire run.
François’ students have been accepted to the Paris Opera Ballet School
and as company members at American Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest
Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Nederland Dans Theatre, North Carolina
Dance Theatre, Sarasota Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and
Orlando Ballet.
François Perron is an ABT® Certified Teacher.
Francois successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in
Primary through Level 7 and Partnering, as well as an official Examiner for
American Ballet Theatre’s affiliate examination.

Francois is currently part of Peridance, Ballet Arts, and New Jersey Dance Ensemble's faculty.