Ryan Steele (born August 3, 1990) is an American dancer and actor. at 17, Ryan booked his first Broadway show: Baby John in the 2009 revival of West Side Story. other Broadway credits include Billy Elliot, Newsies (original Specs, Dance Captain), Matilda, An American In Paris, Carousel, Once Upon A One More Time and MJ The Musical. He was awarded the 2023 Chita Rivera Award for his work in Andy Blankenbuehler’s Only Gold. other stage credits include NY City Center (Fall For Dance, The Wild Party) Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular and more. Ryan has danced for Christopher Wheeldon, Justin Peck, Sonya Tayeh, Keone and Mari Madrid, Jennifer Weber, Andy Blankenbuehler, Chris Gattelli, Sarah Ogleby, Rob Ashford, Chelsea Thedinga, Josh Bergasse, James Kinney, and many more. His TV/Film credits include Ted 2, Fosse/Verdon, Netflix’s I’m Thinking Of Ending Things, Five Dances, Better Nate Than Ever, SMASH, Girls 5Eva, Hulu’s Up Here, NBC’s Peter Pan Live. The Academy Awards, The Tony Awards, multiple late night/morning shows. Ryan has taught at studios all over the country and is on faculty at Dance Device Lab. He has worked with multiple dance organizations including NYCDA, West Coast Dance Explosion and On Stage NY. Ryan has been featured in Dance Spirit and DANCE Mag. he currently lives in NYC performing and traveling for master classes.

Early life and education Steele was born and raised in Walled Lake, Michigan where he lived with his parents, and his brother and sister. The entire Steele family had taken dance classes; his mother in a 'moms dance class', his father in a 'dads dance class' along with both of his siblings. He started dancing at the age of five and instantly fell in love with it.

During elementary and high school he received training from a number of dance programs, including The Juilliard School. In his last few years of high school, Steele was training intensively in Ballet, focusing on a career in concert dance. Steele did not attend university, opting to take a year off and try out for different dance companies. In that year he got a contract with a ballet company in Texas. That year Steele also attended an open call for the 2009 revival of West Side Story, thus was the beginning of his career.

Steele is openly gay and his family has always been supportive of his career and sexuality. He was in a relationship with fellow Broadway actor Matt Doyle for two years.

Career Theatre After high school Steele opted to take the year off and try out for different dance companies. In that year he got a contract with a ballet company in Texas. That year Steele also attended an open call for the 2009 revival of West Side Story where he got the part, leading him to pursue the role of Baby John. Steele was with the cast from opening night on March 19, 2009 to closing night on January 2, 2011.

Following West Side Story, Steele joined the cast of Newsies at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, where he originated the role of Specs. When Newsies moved to Broadway, Steele reprised the role of Specs. Along with the role Steele also was the original dance captain for the musical. Steele was with the cast of Newsies from opening on March 29, 2012 until February 3, 2013 when he left to be part of the original cast of Matilda the Musical, from opening on April 11, 2013 until October 6, 2013.

Steele was also a member of the Billy Elliot the Musical cast, joining as a replacement swing and understudy on and off between January 4, 2011 and January 8, 2012.

Film and television Steele's first film is Five Dances, written and directed by Alan Brown. Steele had the lead role, playing 18-year-old Chip, a young dancer who moved to New York City to pursue intensive ballet training.

In December 2014, Steele appeared as Curly, a Lost Boy, in NBC's Peter Pan Live! where he met his partner, Charlie Williams.

Steele was a dancer in the 2015 Academy Awards ceremony.

Steele also appeared as an ensemble member in the TV series Smash as well as in the pilot episode of The Miraculous Year.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2013 Five Dances Chip Daniel 2015 Broadway Draft 2015 Combine Judge 2020 I’m Thinking of Ending Things Dancing Jake

Television Year Title Role Notes 2012 Smash Sinner Episode: "Hell on Earth" 2012-2014 Submissions Only Dancer 4 episodes 2014 Peter Pan Live! Curly TV movie 2015 87th Academy Awards Himself (dancer) Television special 2015 The Battery's Down Sailor Episode: "Reunion"

Theater Year Title Role Notes 2009 West Side Story (Revival) Baby John Palace Theatre 2011 Newsies Specs Paper Mill Playhouse 2012-2013 Newsies Specs (Dance Captain) Nederlander Theatre 2013 Matilda Henchman Shubert Theatre 2016 An American in Paris Jerry (Alternate) National Tour 2018 Carousel Ensemble Imperial Theatre 2023 Once Upon a One More Time Prince Erudite Marquis Theatre

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Title Result Ref. 2013 Iris Prize Best Actor Five Dances 2023Chita Rivera AwardOutstanding Male Dancer in an Off-Broadway ShowOnly Gold

References