Ian Archer-Watters, ballet dancer and freelance fundraising consultant, danced for Les Ballets Grandiva, an all-male comedy ballet performing as Ashley Merrill-Lynch. He has danced in Serenadiana, Star Spangled Ballerina, Go For Barocco, La Bayadere, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty Party, Pas de Quatre, and Raymonda Variations in 40 cities a year in Japan with additional performances in Seoul. The company’s Italian debut was at the Malibran Theatre, Venice. Additionally, Ian secured the opportunity to dance at the annual music festival in St Barthelemy. In 2006, Ian and 3 “divas” went on a press tour of Japan being interviewed by 40 newspapers, magazines, and appeared on a number of Japanese morning TV shows.

The highlight of his dancing career was news that Dance magazine would run a featured article on his return to dancing after six years and that he would be on the cover (Nov 2005), photography by Lois Greenfield. In June 2008, Cambridge Who’s Who named Ian Professional of the Year in Performing Arts.

For five years, Ian worked in major gifts at New York City Ballet, Longy School of Music, and Handel & Haydn Society.He danced for Fort Worth Ballet and Saint Louis Ballet.

Ian graduated with a BA, English, and a minor in theology from Saint Louis University.He spent a summer at Exeter College, Oxford.Ballet training was from Alexandra School of Ballet and San Francisco Ballet School.

Ian serves on the board of the NY International Ballet Competition. He’s been a fundraising volunteer for St. Bartholomew’s Church, Callen-Lorde Medical Center, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, and Longy School of Music. Ian resides in New York City with husband, Jack Watters and labrador, Oakley. London is their second home.