Ian grew up in Lawrence, Kansas and stared taking Martial Arts when he was seven. At age 14 he began ballroom dancing and also took lessons in tap, jazz and ballet. During high school he participated in film making, writing, religious/mythological studies and Japanese language. He has studied Japanese for five years. He was a DJ on a pirate radio station and produced several short films and two full length feature films. He enjoys making animations (digital and cell drawn.) His father is a Buddist Monk and his mother is a massage therapist. He claims that his little brother is the smart one in his family (valedictorian in high school and is studying Psychology at Kansas University,) and that his little sister is the artistic one and incredibly talented in any medium.

If Ian could choose another occupation he would be a writer or filmmaker. His talents, other than dancing, include playing several instruments: saxophone, clarinet, harmonica and piano. He also says he is "full of useless information." He says a perfect weekend for him would be spent "reading, writing, cooking and dancing." His ideal vacation spot would be New York or Philadelphia. Ian's favorite past times are reading, writing, going to movies, animation and film making and listening to music. His favorite types of music and artists is quite diversified. His favorite color is black and his pet peeve is "people who take themselves seriously." He enjoys "pigging out" on waffles and feels the 3 words that best describe his personality are "quiet, confused and perfectly sane." If he could have dinner with a famous person (dead or alive) it would be Mark Twain because he would be a "good dinner conversationalist and bring fine cigars."