NEXT UP:

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's Open Air Series
Thursday, June 22, 4:30-5:30pm

The Open Air Series is an outdoor festival which features a variety of dance companies
with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre performances nightly. Join us for an SSD showcase featuring
​new works by Shana Simmons and company members.

Shana Simmons’ level of choreographic sophistication is what
sets her apart from other dance-makers of her generation.
Adrienne Barr Totino

TO CHECK OUT A PREVIEW OF FILMING IN 360-DEGREES
​FROM THE VIRTUAL DANCE EXCHANGE PROJECT:

From a computer: use the upper left-hand toggle to change 360-degree angles
On a smart phone: lift phone to flip horizontal and move around yourself

THE MISSION

Shana Simmons Dance seeks advancement of quality dance performance and increased engagement with audiences and the community through financially accessible interactive and immersive productions. Our work relies heavily on partnerships and outreach to explore topics relevant to our community at large with a heavy focus on the integration of movement in education. The vision and passion of the company is to encourage movement in all bodies.

SSD projects aim to draw audiences into modern dance in creative ways and highlight current societal topics for project based work. These projects support communities by creating thoughtful performances and inspiring lives through dance and artistic vision. SSD works with nonprofits dedicated to serving marginalized communities.

Shana Simmons Dance (SSD) was founded in 2009 by Artistic Director Shana Simmons to create unique and engaging contemporary dance. Simmons is a movement artist who creates immersive dance theatre works that have a heavy focus on research as practice. Each thematic movement exploration roots itself in studio tasks related to socially relevant topics, taking into consideration the physical and emotional experience of the dancer as response to the experimentation. Her work aims to engage the viewer in thoughtful ways, encouraging active participation, and absorbing them into the piece as part of the final meaning of the work. 

Simmons firmly believes in supporting artistic growth within its company members by encouraging development of their own voices and providing opportunities for outside choreographic voices to be heard.

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SSD projects have partnered with Grounded/Allegheny Cleanways, Dafna Rehavia, Carnegie Museum of Art, Bryce Dance Co, NYC, The Moving Architects, NYC, Alzheimer’s Association, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the National Aviary, Strong Women, Strong Girls, Project Passenger Pigeon, The Eclectic Laboratory Chamber Orchestra, Amanda Morrison, VALEES Conference, Chicago, Leadership Illinois Conference, Chicago, the Indiana University of PA, Stacy Abalogun, London, and Patricio Forrester/Artmongers, London.
​
Shana Simmons Dance officially received their non-profit status in February of 2017.

DONATE TO SSD

Shana Simmons Dance's seasons are made possible with generous support from:

The Heinz Endowments Small Arts Initiative
Arts, Equity, & Education Fund
A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation
​HOPE Academy/East Liberty Presbyterian Church
The Arts. Equity. Reimagined. Fund
​The Opportunity Fund
Dance Conservatory of Pittsburgh
Individual Donors

Shana Simmons Dance is supported in part by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council
through its Entry to Program Stream grant.

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