SHANA SIMMONS
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER/DANCER

Shana Simmons graduated from Point Park University with a BA in Dance in 2003. Simmons lived in New York City for four and a half years and performed with choreographers such as Noemie Lafrance "Agora", Alexandra Beller, Tomé Cousin, bigGRITS dance co, Debra Wanner/ Amy Larimer, Amanda Drozer, and was a company member of white road dance media. Whilst in New York, Simmons was chosen to present work at the HATCH Series twice, through Jennifer Muller Works. Simmons also taught for the Internationally acclaimed National Dance Institute, founded by Jacques D’Amboise, for three years.

Simmons holds an MA in Choreography from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance in London, England. She performed and choreographed with companies and choreographers such as Flat Feet Dance Company, Stacy Abalogun and Nadine Doran-Holder and independently presented work at the Reverie Dance Festival in Ghent, Belgium. Choreographers in London consistently asked Simmons to create movement for their pieces as part of their process, along with Simmons’ own choreographic works being shown. Simmons collaborated with the visual art company Artmongers, in two site-specific works in London and Simmons has performed her own works in New York City, Belgium, London, Chicago, Boston, and Pittsburgh. Simmons has presented at APAP, pearlPRESENTS Dance Festival, the Next Stage Residency, SpringUP Dance Festival, New Moves Festival, The Three Rivers Arts Festival, and Evolve Productions.

SHANA SIMMONS DANCE(SSD), 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. Simmons and SSD have produced a variety of works in Pittsburgh since 2012: Relative Positions (2012), PASSENGER (2014), Objective I (2015), The Missing Peace (2018), ELEVATE (2019). SSD has received support from the Heinz Small Arts Initiative, The Pittsburgh Foundation, PACE Capacity Building, the Kelly- Strayhorn Theater and the National Aviary.

In 2021, the company received a $100,000 grant award through the Arts. Equity. Reimagined. Fund for a collaborative project to discuss race and age diversity in dance, generating discussions related to the Pittsburgh dance scene and ways of creating sustainable futures for all types of dancers here in Pittsburgh. Along with this new endeavor, the companies (SSD, Bianca Johnson & Dancers, Chrisala Brown, and XRconnectED) filmed in 360-degree format, creating a new virtual work blending different dance styles, with community at its core center. The company has also created the Constructed Sight Dance Film Festival, an international online film festival which hosts an in-person Opening Night Event, an online Artist Meet & Greet, and an online Dance Film Workshop.

Simmons has been commissioned to choreograph for Texture Contemporary Ballet, Indiana University of PA, Point Park University, the VALEES Conference, and Leadership Illinois Conference. Simmons is trained in the Graham technique, has worked with various release based choreographers and teachers, values non-gender based partnering as integral to her choreography, and is trained in various Garuda method pilates/yoga classes. Simmons has been a nominee for the Carol R Brown Award (2016), received Pittsburgh’s Best Dance award (2014, 2015, 2018) and independently teaches within the community as well as Adjunct Faculty at Point Park University and Seton Hill University. 

Our favorite thing about Shana: She creates a warm, invigorating environment where we all can thrive in (even when she asks for a left battement)
Founded SSD in: 2009

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BRITTANY NETTLES
DANCER

Brittany Nettles (she/they) is a choreographer and dancer originally from Baton Rouge,
Louisiana where she grew up studying ballet, jazz and contemporary dance. They received
a BFA in Dance from Point Park University, where they now teach as an adjunct faculty
member at the School of Dance. Brittany has been dancing with Shana Simmons Dance
since 2022. She has presented work as a choreographer with SSD, PearlArts, inter-pgh and
Texture Contemporary Ballet. Brittany has also had the opportunity to be a part of several
film projects as a dancer and choreographer (Archive 81: Netflix, Initiation, Body and Sol,
Maxo Vanka: Independent Films). In addition to Brittany’s work in the concert dance world,
they also teach for Act One Theatre School, a musical theatre program for youth in
Pittsburgh, where they have choreographed several full length musicals (Mary Poppins,
Matilda, The Little Mermaid, Shrek).

Our favorite thing about Brittany: She's like the big sister who's always prepared and never hesitates to help us get back on track in rehearsal.
Dancing with SSD since: 2021
Works performed with SSD: 
​STOP (2018)
Work in Progress (2025)
#JANET (2025)
​Stop at Strawberry way (2025)
Bonfire Triptych (2024)
Burnout (2024)
I Feel Love 12" ( 2024, choreo. Brittany Nettles)
Why Yellow (2023)
Cogito (2023)
​Taste the Seasons (2023)
Uptown (2022)
Sand (2021)
Comin Home Baby (2021)
Take the Air (2021)

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MADISYN MONTGOMERY
​DANCER

Madisyn (she/her) graduated from UNCSA in 2023 and moved back home to Pittsburgh. In August of that same year, she was offered a contract with Shana Simmons Dance. This will be her third year with the company. With SSD she has performed Shana's pieces including Living Landscapes, Collapse, Bonfire Triptych, #JANET, and Of Elephants And Asses along with films like Fortuna And Her Wheel and Stop at Strawberry Way, a collaboration with Jen Keller. While dancing with SSD, Madisyn also pursues teaching and freelancing. She has been involved in projects like Jillian Sinko's film Body And Sol and Brittany Nettles' Abundant Heart Fluorescent Body. When she is not dancing, you can find her substituting at an elementary school, working at a coffee shop, or spending time with her family and fur babies.

Our favorite thing about Madisyn: She's as genuine and spontaneous as her Horton T (which she can hit without being warmed-up).
Dancing with SSD since: 2022
Works performed with SSD:
STOP ​(2018)
Work in Progress (2025)
​Of Elephants and Asses (2025)
Untitled Solo (2025)
#JANET (2025)
Stop at Strawberry Way (2025),
Bonfire Triptych (2024),
Burnout (2024)
I Feel Love 12" ( 2024, choreo. Brittany Nettles)
Taste the Seasons (2023)
Living Landscapes (2023)
​Sacred Spaces ​Tour (2023)

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AUTUMN B-C
​DANCER

​Autumn B-C (she/her​) is a multifaceted dancer from Pittsburgh PA as well as a passionate dance instructor at LDI DanceWorks, where she dedicates her time to refining the ballet technique of local K-12 students. Achieving her BFA in Dance from SRU, she is a versatile dancer as she has trained extensively under multiple styles including but not limited too; Ballet, Graham, Horton, Limón, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, Wacking, Vogueing, Jazz, Bharatanatyam and more. As a performer, she currently dances with Shana Simmons Dance Company and has since fall of 2023 as well as Confluence Ballet Company. Autumn has had the privilege of performing in prestigious venues along the east coast, including The Joyce Theatre in NYC, the Detroit Museum of Art and Sri Venkateswara Temple. Her love and passion for dance is inspired by the beauty of everyday life and her work is heavily influenced by the culture and lifestyle of others.

​Our favorite thing about Autumn: She embodies the aesthetic of "the cool" in both her personal style and movement qualities.
Dancing with SSD since: 2024
Works Performed with SSD:
STOP  ​(2018)
#JANET (2025)
​yesterday / tomorrow (2025, chore. Autumn B-C and Tyler Anderson)
Stop at Strawberry Way (2025)
​Bonfire Triptych (2024)

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TYLER ANDERSON
​DANCER

Tyler Anderson (he/him/any​) is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a deeply passionate person, and a believer in the power of the arts. Tyler is a multi-disciplinary artist, most partial to dance and theatre, but interested in fine arts, such as pottery, sculpture, and fabric arts as well. He is inspired to create by Queer history and culture, current events and new things he’s learned along the way. In addition to the various creative projects he has going on at once, he is a dancer with Shana Simmons Dance and acts as the Arts Education Program Coordinator at the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Currently, Tyler is pursuing an MA at Point Park University, and holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in Professional Spanish and one in Dance, with additional coursework in Gender Studies and Art. Recently, Tyler also served as Dance Captain for Stage 62's productions of The Prom and RENT. As a community-focused artist, he has experience teaching various styles for various ages and experience levels, and looks forward to continuing his teaching journey. He’s extremely interpersonal, enjoys collaboration, and loves sharing laughs with new people.

Our favorite thing about Tyler: He always uplifts the mood with his humor, expansive lexicon, and silly (but memorable) pneumonic devices.
Dancing with SSD since: 2024
Works Performed with SSD:
​#JANET (2025)
​yesterday / tomorrow (2025, chore. Autumn B-C and Tyler Anderson)
Stop at Strawberry Way (2025)
​Bonfire Triptych (2024)

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ABBY BREZNAK
​INTERN

Abby Breznak (she/her​) is a dance creative from Lancaster, Pa. Currently a senior at Seton Hill University, she is pursuing a BA in Dance Performance alongside a BSBA in Business Management. She is currently working as a substitute dance instructor at local dance studios in Greensburg, Pa and recently began working as an intern for SSD.
​She has choreographed and presented work for numerous shows at Seton Hill University, ACDA 2024 Mid-Atlantic South conference, and ACDA 2025 Northeast conference. Abby’s most recent performance credits include DUMBO Dance Festival 2025 and KoDaFe 2024 in NYC with Nolan Dance Collective, and Aimed Dance Summer Fest 2024 in Beaumont, Tx. 

Shana Simmons Dance is continuously planning events, producing a variety of works through different mediums, hosting classes, and developing this artistic endeavor. 

If you are interested in working as an Intern for Shana Simmons Dance, please contact [email protected].
​We have marketing, research, management, and business development opportunities.
Please attach resumé and letter of introduction to begin the dialogue!

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Members of the Board, 2025 - 2026

President, Brett Fulesday
Vice-President, Geeta Tahiliani
Secretary, Jamie Erin Murphy
Treasurer, Shana Simmons
Board Member, Jody Guy
Board Member, Kerra Alexander Sullivan
​Board Member, Jackie Uranic

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Previous Board Members

​2022-2023
President, Mark Minnaugh
Treasurer, Shana Simmons
Board Member, Naina Roy
Board Member, Chrisoula Perdziola
Board Member, Abi Jett

​2021-2022
President, Mark Minnaugh
Treasurer, Shana Simmons
Board Member, Naina Roy
Board Member, Chrisoula Perdziola
Board Member, Abi Jett

2020-2021
President, Mark Minnaugh
Secretary, Tiffany Brazile
Treasurer, Shana Simmons

2019-2020
​President, Mark Minnaugh
Secretary, Tiffany Brazile
Treasurer, Shana Simmons
Member, Dr. Yihhsing Liu
​​
2018-2019
President, Mark Minnaugh
Interim Secretary, Kristine Schnaufer
Treasurer, Shana Simmons

2017-2018
President, Mark Minnaugh
Secretary, Tanya Moximchalk
Treasurer, Shana Simmons

​2016-2017
President, Lisa Bernardo
Secretary, Tanya Moximchalk
Treasurer, Shana Simmons

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