We all know America is where the dance industry is at. We have some of the best choreographers in the world and everyone knows it. Heck, people even move here to pursue their dance careers. However, that is not to say that there aren’t some equally talented choreographers in other countries worth being credited. The first people who come to mind when I think “international choreographers” are Kiwi queen of badassery, Parris Goebel, and French “sexography” deity, Yanis Marshall. I could write entire books on how effortlessly and utterly flawless they are, but that’s for another time. Besides, words couldn’t do half the job of articulating my adoration for them.

Anyway, if those names don’t ring a bell, then I don’t know what rock you’ve been living under and you should definitely go do yourself a favor by checking them out. Although I’m sure you’ve admired their choreography without knowing it - Parris’s most recent projects involved choreographing for Justin Bieber’s "Purpose” dance video series and being the official choreographer for Rihanna. Artists like Beyonce, Ciara, Natalia Kills and Ariana Grande have shared Yanis’s work and his infamous heels choreography videos have gone viral on all social media platforms. While most of us are busy looking like drunk baby calves trying to walk for the first time just standing in heels, Yanis makes dancing in stilettos look easy as pie. Watch his sultry collaboration with dance legend Brian Friedman here. One thing is for sure - they’re making dance history and rightfully so. Whether you’re someone who loves to dance or just someone who enjoys watching other people dance, here are some more amazing international choreographers you should keep your eye on.

1. Rudi Smit - South Africa

Executive and creative director of Dance2XS South Africa, Rudi Smit is perhaps one of the fiercest dancers I can name. With his on-point facials, talent for precise movement (his waacking is unbelievable), and ability to bring every beat in a song to life, he is sure to take the dance industry by storm. Check out one of my favorite videos from him, Monkey Biznizz.

2. Guillaume Lorentz - France

France’s Guillaume Lorentz will blow you away with his incredible dancehall choreography to “Come Onto Me” by Major Lazer ft. Sean Paul. Lorentz is extremely diverse, as he is equally talented in his hard hitting hip-hop choreography as he is with his groovier choreography. Also, can we talk about how simultaneously badass and adorable he is? His classes look like so much fun!

3. Chris Clark - United Kingdom

Where is the caution tape when you need it? Because Kingston upon Hull's Chris Clarke’s choreography to Rihanna’s “Sexuality” just got straight up murdered by some of my favorite dancers, Ricky Lam, Nargiz Rad and Vikki Koval. Clarke’s musicality and the sensuality that oozes out of his work made my inner drag queen come out, shouting “YASSS” throughout the entire combo. If “sexuality” could look like anything it would look like this choreography.

4. Lia Kim - South Korea

We all know about K-Pop, K Dramas and KBBQ, but Korea’s absolutely phenomenal dancers don’t get enough credit. Seoul’s Lia Kim has so much amazing choreography that it was honestly the hardest decision of my life to choose which one to feature in this article. When you’ve seriously considered studying abroad in South Korea just so you can take her classes at 1MILLION (the studio she teaches at), that’s when you know a dancer is prodigious. I can’t even think of a word that could begin to describe how impressive Lia’s choreography to “Formation” by Beyonce is, so I’ll just let it speak for itself. Also, keep an eye out for Rikimaru Chikada, the dancer in the white shirt whose looks/facials are so sharp they cut.

5. Mecnun Giasar - Germany

Germany’s Mecnun Giasar is probably one of my favorite choreographers because he is so unabashedly fabulous and fierce. He’s not afraid to be himself and exudes pure confidence with every movement and inch of his being. If there were such thing as canonization in the dance world, Mecnun would have my nomination. Not only is his talent exceptional, but he also uses it to inspire individuality, acceptance, and self-love. He is also the definition of the word “WERK”... Okay, my definition anyway. You’ll see. One day instead of saying “badass”, people will start saying “Mecnun”. So treat yourself and watch him slay Fiinesse, Gip and Brenmar’s remix of Beyonce’s Drunk In Love.

Bottom Line, I'm proud to walk the same planet that these incredible people dance on. I'm also particularly glad that they didn't let anyone tell them what they can and cannot do because it takes a lot in order to put yourself out there for the world to judge. And once you get past that, it's even more difficult to be unique by being yourself. So props to these personifications of perfection!