CHRIS NAISH
CHRIS NAISH - FOUNDER/ ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Chris Naish is a performer, teacher, and choreographer from Bristol, UK. He began training in multiple dance styles at the age of four and quickly developed a strong passion for the high-energy rhythm and precision of Irish dance.
He spent many years competing with the Sean Eireann McMahon Dance School in Bristol, achieving All-Ireland, European, National, and Regional solo champion titles, as well as World Champion titles in Figure and Ceili team categories. At 19, Chris retired from competitive dance and went on to graduate with a distinction in Performing Arts.
He began his professional touring career with Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, performing internationally for four years. He then continued with major productions including five years with Riverdance, and appeared as a featured dancer on Celtic Woman’s 10th Anniversary World Tour.
In 2010, Chris moved away from traditional Irish dance staging to co-create the experimental street-level project Sneaky Steppers. During breaks from touring, he spent time in New York City, where he developed his choreography work for various dance companies, including Studio2Stage and Camp Rince Ceol.
Returning to the UK, Chris launched the progressive Irish dance project Fusion Fighters on St. Patrick’s Day 2013. The company has since become a leading online Irish dance community, known for its workshops, video projects, live performances, and campaigns, reaching over 500 million views worldwide.
Fusion Fighters has played a key role in training the next generation of Irish fusion performers and providing professional opportunities through the Fusion Dance Fest cast. Performance highlights include appearances at the World Irish Dance Championships (Dublin and Glasgow), North American Nationals, Jigs & Wigs (BBC One), Nolan Live (BBC NI), The Six O’Clock Show (Virgin Media), The Late Late Show (RTÉ), Up for the Match (RTÉ), Llambis Tanzduell (RTL), and Fleadh TV (TG4).
The professional performance crew has also featured at events such as the Irish Post Awards, Google HQ Dublin, The Ideal Home Show, Fáilte Ireland’s Meitheal, the European Eventing Championships, and St. Patrick’s Day festivals in London and Belfast. Fusion Fighters has also completed multiple European tours, including over 50 shows on the Irish Folk Festival Tour and Irish Heartbeat Tour.
Since 2016, the annual Fusion Fighters Summer Showcase has become a flagship event, returning in 2026 for its 11th anniversary in Belfast due to popular demand. Chris also delivers in-person and online workshops, along with professional choreography and video projects.
He spent many years competing with the Sean Eireann McMahon Dance School in Bristol, achieving All-Ireland, European, National, and Regional solo champion titles, as well as World Champion titles in Figure and Ceili team categories. At 19, Chris retired from competitive dance and went on to graduate with a distinction in Performing Arts.
He began his professional touring career with Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, performing internationally for four years. He then continued with major productions including five years with Riverdance, and appeared as a featured dancer on Celtic Woman’s 10th Anniversary World Tour.
In 2010, Chris moved away from traditional Irish dance staging to co-create the experimental street-level project Sneaky Steppers. During breaks from touring, he spent time in New York City, where he developed his choreography work for various dance companies, including Studio2Stage and Camp Rince Ceol.
Returning to the UK, Chris launched the progressive Irish dance project Fusion Fighters on St. Patrick’s Day 2013. The company has since become a leading online Irish dance community, known for its workshops, video projects, live performances, and campaigns, reaching over 500 million views worldwide.
Fusion Fighters has played a key role in training the next generation of Irish fusion performers and providing professional opportunities through the Fusion Dance Fest cast. Performance highlights include appearances at the World Irish Dance Championships (Dublin and Glasgow), North American Nationals, Jigs & Wigs (BBC One), Nolan Live (BBC NI), The Six O’Clock Show (Virgin Media), The Late Late Show (RTÉ), Up for the Match (RTÉ), Llambis Tanzduell (RTL), and Fleadh TV (TG4).
The professional performance crew has also featured at events such as the Irish Post Awards, Google HQ Dublin, The Ideal Home Show, Fáilte Ireland’s Meitheal, the European Eventing Championships, and St. Patrick’s Day festivals in London and Belfast. Fusion Fighters has also completed multiple European tours, including over 50 shows on the Irish Folk Festival Tour and Irish Heartbeat Tour.
Since 2016, the annual Fusion Fighters Summer Showcase has become a flagship event, returning in 2026 for its 11th anniversary in Belfast due to popular demand. Chris also delivers in-person and online workshops, along with professional choreography and video projects.