# Zara Richards, Choreographer and Movement Director

> Zara Richards is the choreographer producers call when there is no time for a second choice. Choreographer, movement director and creative director based in London and Hertfordshire, working across the UK and internationally. Dance captain for Stormzy and Burna Boy at the BRIT Awards 2020. Dancer in Barbie (Warner Bros, 2023). Choreographer for Tems at Afro Nation 2025 and for Will Smith at King's Cross. Founder of Warriorz Performing Arts Academy (2013) and the XDC competition. Judge and host.

Contact: warriorzpaa@live.co.uk · 07931923580 · Instagram @z_prichards
Represented by: Dancers Inc / I.N.C Artists, Mass Talent

## Biography
Born and raised in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, UK, Zara Richards is an established professional dancer and choreographer with over 17 years of experience working across the UK, Europe and the United States.
Dance has always been a huge part of Zara’s life. Coming from a family of dancers, movement and performance are firmly rooted in her background. Her father was a professional tap dancer, while her grandparents were ballroom champions, giving Zara a strong connection to dance from an early age.
Growing up, Zara trained extensively and competed at a high level in dance competitions, developing the performance quality, discipline and versatility that would later shape her professional career. At just 16 years old, Zara began working professionally, dancing and teaching for Disney Channel — marking the beginning of what would become a long-standing career within the entertainment and dance industry.
Throughout her career, Zara has worked with a wide range of artists, creatives and productions internationally. As a choreographer, she has a natural ability to understand an artist or creative director’s vision and transform it into dynamic choreography for live performances, stage productions and touring shows.
Known for her versatility and creative approach, Zara specialises in multiple dance styles, enabling her to bring a broad range of movement, influences and ideas to every project. Her professional development has also taken her internationally, including training in Los Angeles and New York, and she continues to invest in her craft and stay connected to the ever-evolving dance industry.
Alongside her professional career, Zara has been running her own dance academy since 2013, teaching, mentoring and developing dancers from the age of three through to adults. Her extensive experience working with young people has shaped her into a patient, adaptable and inclusive teacher and choreographer, with experience supporting dancers with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and individuals with varying abilities and learning needs.
One of Zara’s strengths is her ability to recognise what works for each individual performer. Whether she is working with a professional artist, emerging talent or young dancer, she understands how to adapt movement and choreography while maintaining the integrity of the overall creative vision.
Zara thrives on new challenges, collaboration and creativity. Whether stepping onto the stage as a professional dancer or taking the lead creatively as a choreographer, she brings experience, versatility, patience and a genuine passion for transforming ideas into memorable moments through movement.

## Pages
- [Home](https://www.zararichards.co.uk/)
- [Work](https://www.zararichards.co.uk/work)
- [Choreographer](https://www.zararichards.co.uk/choreographer)
- [Judge & host](https://www.zararichards.co.uk/judge-host)
- [About](https://www.zararichards.co.uk/about)
- [Testimonials](https://www.zararichards.co.uk/testimonials)
- [Contact](https://www.zararichards.co.uk/contact)

## Services
- Choreography: For camera, stage and arena. Commercials, music videos, festival sets, awards shows.
- Movement direction: Making artists, presenters and casts look natural in two takes. A director's brief turned into movement that survives the edit.
- Creative direction: Concept, cast, location and choreography delivered as one job, by one person.
- Movement coaching and creative consultancy: One-to-one and small-group coaching for artists, presenters and actors who need to move well on camera, plus creative consultancy on a brief that is not yet a routine.
- Dancers, cast and supplied: A trained company on call. Seven dancers in twenty-four hours is on record. Flash mobs and branded performance experiences too, cast from her own company.

## Styles
Hip-Hop, Locking, Commercial, Lite Feet, House, Afro, Dancehall, Waacking, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary

## Film
- Barbie (Warner Bros): Dancer, the opening block party, 2023

## Stage and live
- BRIT Awards (Stormzy and Burna Boy): Dance Captain, 2020
- BRIT Awards (Little Simz): Dancer, 2022
- Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony (Birmingham 2022): Production dancer and dance captain, 2022
- Afro Nation Portugal (Tems): Choreographer, 2025
- World tour, South Africa and Australia (Tems): Dancer, 2023
- King's Cross, London (Will Smith): Choreographer, 2025
- Timeless Tour, O2 Arena and Paris (Davido): Dancer and choreographic team, 2024
- Reggae Land (Charly Black): Choreographer and dancer, 2026
- Gumball 3000, Romania (Adekunle Gold): Choreographer, 2025
- MOBO Awards, Co-op Live Manchester (Shenseea): Dancer, 2026
- Summertime Ball (Nathan Dawe and Ella Henderson): Dancer
- Yam Festival (Davido, Beenie Man, Patoranking): Choreographer and dancer
- Afro Nation (The Compozers, Not3s, D'banj, Vanessa Mdee, Jidenna): Dancer
- Billboard Awards (Tyla): Dancer
- Britain's Got Talent (ITV, with Empire): Semi-finalist
- Got to Dance (Sky): Dancer
- Boyz II Men tour, The O2 (Lauran Alexandra): Choreographer and dancer
- Hillsong Conference, The O2 (Hillsong): Dancer
- Little Monsters tour (Slanted Dance): Dancer
- Sault (Sault, live): Assistant choreographer to Kloe Dean, 2023
- The Waitrose Experience (BANG! Curry): Choreographer and performer, brand activation, 2025
- Peacock Theatre, London (Yasemin Sakallioglu): Assistant choreographer, 2025

## TV and commercials
- Share a Coke (Coca-Cola): Movement director, TV commercial, 2025
- Shake It Up, Twist and Tricks (Disney Channel and Odeon Cinemas): Movement director and dancer
- National Parks UK (National Parks UK and Columbia): Choreographer, TV ad, 2025
- My Disney Stars and Friends (Disney): Children's TV presenter, eight seasons
- Wimbledon (BBC Sport): TV advert
- Race for Life, Cancer Slam (Tesco and Cancer Research UK): Choreographer, TV ad
- Let's Cheer (Dr Pepper): Choreographer
- M&S Plant Kitchen (M&S with LadBible): Dancer
- The Masked Dancer (ITV): Dancer, series two, 2022
- Dancing on Ice (ITV): Dancer, 2022
- Get Involved (The Sun): TV commercial
- Footlocker (Footlocker): TV commercial
- Sidemen (YouTube): Dancer
- Studio.co.uk (Studio): TV advert
- Christmas Album (Ministry of Fun): TV and online
- Kisses It Better (Keith Lemon): TV programme
- The Tunnel (BBC): Featured role, acting
- Showbusiness (Louie Spence): Dancer
- Little Heroes (TV): Presenter
- Interlude auditions (Pineapple Studios): TV
- Got 2 Dance (TV advert): Dancer
- Mikaela Mayer ring walk, The O2 (Sky Sports, the UK's first women's boxing headline night): Choreographer, entrance dance, 2025
- Paddy Power (Paddy Power): TV ad
- Pets at Home (Pets at Home): Stills
- Twerking Girl (Wrigley's): Dancer
- Adidas (Adidas): Performer

## Music videos
- Ruby (Macy Gray): Dancer
- Not Letting Go (Tinie Tempah and Jess Glynne): Main dancer
- Wavy (Clique): Dancer
- Are You Ready (D*Lux): Dancer
- Drip Drop (Robko Tokyo): Choreographer, Afro concept video, 2025
- We Crown You: Choreographer and dancer
- Winner: Choreographer and dancer
- Time Will Tell: Choreographer and dancer
- Obego: Choreographer and dancer
- App Shit (Little Rascalz): Dancer
- Let Me Entertain You (Valentine): Dancer
- Call Me Oga (Duty Paid): Choreographer
- What You Know (Marky Jones, GRM Daily): Creative director and choreographer, cast and location, 2025
- Flygerian (Flygerian, with Big Tobz, Princess Wonder, Base One, Maulor Hiddy and Rio Flawless): Choreographer, seven dancers cast in twenty-four hours, 2025
- Friends (Kelvin Jones, Sony): Choreographer, 2025
- Music video (Dolapo Omidire): Choreographer, with Warriorz dancers, 2025
- Don't Let Go (Sadie): Choreographer
- Igwe (Beth): Choreographer
- Single release (Zeezy): Choreographer, with Warriorz dancers, 2022
- Joss Stone (Joss Stone): Dancer
- Cher Lloyd (Cher Lloyd): Dancer

## Creative direction and immersive
- Hot Wuk (A Z.R Creative film, Mr Vegas track): Choreography and creative direction, with Dae, 2026
- Tranquil Turtle concept film (Z.R Creative, filmed by Minute Pictures): Concept, choreography and creative direction, 2025
- Clothing brand concept film (With EGE Choreography): Concept, choreography and creative direction, 2025
- Concept films with the company (Z.R Creative with Warriorz dancers): Choreography and creative direction: Afro, Hip-Hop and Lite Feet concept films, 2025
- Caribbean Christmas Immersive Experience (Warriorz with Tranquil Turtle and Dutchies Caribbean): Created and directed: live acting, dance and a Caribbean meal in one room, 2025

## Judge and host
- XDC (Her own competition): Founder and director
- Hip Hop Unite UK (HHU): Owner
- 101 Events, SdI, HHU, Unified (UK and Europe): Judge
- Pioneer Plays Malta (Rep Your Country Party): Host, 2026
- UK dance competitions and events: Host and presenter
- Afro vs Dancehall, Tranquil Turtle Stevenage (With Leanne Dunstan): Host, 2025

## Testimonials
- Kelvin Jones, Artist, Sony: "I asked Zara last minute to put together a choreography for my music video and she absolutely nailed it! We didn't even end up making any tweaks because I loved the choreo as it was. Zara and her dancers had totally got the vibe I was going for. When we filmed, I asked Zara if she could quickly organise a choreo for a scene that we weren't expecting. She took 5 minutes, did her magic and suddenly had a new routine that fit the shots perfectly. Such an incredible working experience!"
- Ruth Kestenbaum, Dance school owner: "An outstanding artist, teacher and choreographer, Zara is one of the most inspiring young women I have met in the industry. Her choreographic style is unique and distinguished, she is a smart business woman, and her teaching and the manner in which she engages her students is absolutely superb. She is quite simply exceptional."
- Flygerian, Music video: "I contacted Zara 7 days before the shoot as another choreographer let me down. Within 24 hours she organised 7 dancers for the shoot. They arrived on time and so professional and the choreography was amazing. Thanks so much again."
- Marky, “What You Know About” music video: "Zara was so easy to work with, she provided me with all dancers and choreography. She even organised the shooting location. She is a hard working and dedicated creative director and choreographer. I will 100% be working with her in the future."
- Jonathon Medina, Duty Paid, band: "Zara is a well organised, talented dancer and choreographer. She is passionate, and it was a pleasure to have her on set for our music video “Call Me Oga”. She is also friendly with good energy. Looking forward to working with her again in the future."
- L'Shay Creatives, Agency: "I have worked on set with Zara quite a few times with my U18 clients. Zara has a kind bubbly vibe that the dancers quickly warm to and pick up the choreography well. She is very good at taking on the role of artistic director, she always brings visions to life and I highly recommend her."

Machine-readable credits: https://www.zararichards.co.uk/credits.json