Francois Achan

Hiland Teaching Artist

Originally from Houston, TX, Francois has been dancing and teaching nationally for the past 17 years. In 2010 Francois, along with eight other artists, founded The Brothers Crew, which traveled the globe battling and teaching. Later, Francois would also come to join the breaking crew Vicious by Nature out of Phoenix AZ. Francois spent four years working as a caseworker, mentor, and community activist for Revision – a non-profit that redirects and mentors systemized, food insecure and poverty-stricken youth. He attended Santa Fe University of Art and Design as a Film Major. For the past 10 years Francois has worked as a free-lance photographer and cinematographer for companies and individuals that include: Dennis Rodman, University of New Mexico, National Dance Institute, Dancing Earth Creations, National Alliance on Mental Illness, Santa Fe University of Art and Design, Levi Skateboarding, Blueprint House Dance Festival, Neal Hammil Modeling Agency, Paul Mitchell, and G-Fuel Energy. He has taught breaking and hip-hop at Sam Houston High School, Axis Dance, Jennifer Frost Dance, Children’s Assessment Center, Blake High School of Performing Arts, New Mexico School of the Arts, and NDI New Mexico. Francois continues to battle, travel, spread knowledge, and teach as an instructor at UNM Theatre and Dance Department.