Dansworks Dance Academy of Performing Arts CIC Team

Seán Ruane

Seán Ruane, raised and educated in his native Lancashire, completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the Royal Northern College of Music . His exceptional promise was recognised by the Peter Moores Foundation who supported Seán as a young professional. Through them, he was able to study in Italy with Fernanda Puccini. Seán was subsequently awarded a place on the prestigious Academia di Puccini studying with the world renowned Magda Olivero and Rania Kabiavanski. Sean was a finalist in the ‘Concorso Lirico Internazionale’, Italy, working with Rolando Panerai, Ines Salazar and Vivien Hewitt.

Equally at home performing in front of the cognoscenti of Covent Garden or fervent football fans at Wembley, Seán has worked all over Europe, the United States, Russia, Australia and New Zealand since making his professional debut in 2001, Opera Holland Park was his very first professional engagement in Manon Lescaut in 2001 and he returned each summer for 10 years.
While opera remains at the heart of his work, Seán became the voice of many of the national sporting events. Seán has performed on many occasions at The Ashes Cricket Series, he has also made a number of special appearances at other cricket Test Matches, but his rendition of ‘Jerusalem’ has been played before the start of countless England Test Matches. Seán has also sung ahead of England football internationals, the Irish Rugby Six Nations internationals and has also appeared on the bill of the Teenage Cancer Trust concerts, alongside the likes of Paul Weller, Jools Holland and comedian Johnny Vegas.

In 2011, Sean established CHANT Productions. Since then he has designed an innovative programme of opportunities for young people, giving them access to work alongside industry professionals in Arts, Media and Sport. CHANT believe that Stadiums are the theatres of the future for young people and hold the potential to unlock youth talent, and challenge some of the Country’s greatest social problems. Chant's journey has been very exciting with programme’s developed with the BBC, The FA, The RFL and the Football League.

CHANT also delivered world class choirs for the Rugby League World Cup, working with over 500 children based around the grounds of the RLWC Fixtures, CHANT taught a range of songs including the National Anthem’s for the playing Teams, which ranged from the English National Anthem to the Tongan National Anthem and many languages in between. CHANT has delivered performers and choirs for the Rugby League Challenge Cup, with over a 100 singing at the Final at Wembley.