Bios

Ryan & Ashleigh Di Lello

Ryan and Ashleigh both began dancing before age five and over the past twenty five years have competed, performed, and taught ballroom dance in more than twenty countries across the world. They each became champions at an early age winning titles such as DanceSport Junior Latin Champion, United States Youth American Champion, United States Youth Standard runner-up, DanceSport Amateur Latin Champion, and both United States and British Latin Formation Champions. In 2009 Ryan and Ashleigh auditioned for the FOX television show ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ Not only were they the first married couple to make the show, but each went all the way to the finale. They soon after became a star couple of the international sensation ‘Burn the Floor,’ appearing on the West End in London, after which they were the show’s headliners for the U.S Broadway tour. Ryan comes from a dynasty of award-winning ballroom dancers which includes his parents and both maternal and paternal grandparents. He has followed his family legacy to become a U.S. National Champion. After five years of company work in ballet, jazz, and hip hop Ashleigh fell in love with ballroom dancing when she was twelve and soon became a DanceSport Junior Latin Champion and a United States Junior American Finalist. She has a special love and passion for dance that has come as a result of much trial and hardship.  At the age of thirteen she became very sick with a life-threatening illness that she would battle through for the next four and a half years. She met with doctor after doctor searching for a cure. Most said she would die, they all said she would never dance again. Ashleigh assured each of them that she would not only live but she would dance. After triumphing over this illness, Ashleigh returned to dance and quickly surged to the top becoming a three-time DanceSport Amateur Latin Champion and a United States Amateur Latin Finalist. Ryan and Ashleigh have also danced as guest performers on ‘The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon,’ ‘Sabado Gigante’ on Univision, ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ and ‘Ellen.’ Ryan and Ashleigh have choreographed extensively for the past ten years. Their work has been used by competitive dance teams, professional dance/theater companies, Royal Caribbean International, ‘So You Think You Can Dance’ on FOX, and ABC’s ‘Dancing with the Stars.’