SHANA SIMMONS
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER/DANCER

Year started with SSD: 2009
Favorite thing about her: Her uninhibited vocabulary during rehearsals.
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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. 

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JAMIE ERIN MURPHY
COSTUMES/DANCER

Year started with SSD: 2012
Favorite thing about her: Her generosity and those pointy feet.
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Jamie Erin Murphy is a Pittsburgh based choreographer, dancer and educator who is passionate about exploring the human body through movement.  She graduated from Point Park University in 2007 and broke into the Pittsburgh dance scene soon after.  Jamie has worked with Attack Theatre, Staycee Pearl Dance Project, Texture Contemporary Ballet, Xpressions Contemporary Dance Company, The Pillow Project, Knot Dance, Zany Umbrella Circus, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh and was co-director of Murphy/Smith Dance Collective.  Her choreography has been presented throughout Pittsburgh, as well as Ohio and New York.  In 2014 she completed a 6-month mentorship with  Doug Varone and Dancers (NYC) and presented work at the historical 92nd Street Y as part of the CHIN Project.  Jamie has an extensive teaching career and is currently a proud faculty member of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School where she teaches Modern, Jazz, Choreography, Dance for Parkinson’s, Adaptive Dance and Creative Movement through elementary school residencies.  Jamie has taught master classes at Carnegie Mellon University, Seton Hill University and Point Park University and has guest lectured about her educational programs at University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University and Carlow University.  She has had the honor of being nominated twice for The Carol R. Brown Achievement in the Arts Award and was listed in 2013’s Best of Pittsburgh Dance for her work with MSDC. On top of being an independent artist, she is currently a collaborator of Shana Simmons Dance.  Jamie is very proud to be a part of the Pittsburgh dance community and will strive to continue her mission to make art and dance accessible for everyone.

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BRADY SANDERS
DANCER

Year started with SSD: 2014
Favorite thing about him: His adaptability in movement and the way his hair falls across his forehead.
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Brady Sanders resides in Pittsburgh, PA and has performed with Dansz Loop Chicago, Inaside Chicago Dance, Thodos Dance Chicago, Attack Theatre in the Pittsburgh Opera, the Murphy/Smith Dance Collective, Jamie Erin Murphy and Shana Simmons Dance.  He has toured nationally and internationally with Thodos Dance Chicago and The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. As founder and Artistic Director of the Pride of Cincinnati Dance Ensemble, Brady is passionate about offering students professional level performance experiences. His choreography has been performed by many artistically innovative groups including but not limited to, The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, the Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard and The Pride of Cincinnati Dance Ensemble. Brady’s choreography was most recently seen at the 2016 newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival in Pittsburgh, PA and the 2017 APAP conference in New York, NY. He is currently teaching, performing and choreographing extensively throughout the Pittsburgh area and across the Midwest.  Brady is passionate about teaching, entertaining, collaborating and communicating through dance.

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EMILY JAIKARAN
DANCER

Year started with SSD: 2017
Favorite thing about her: Her soft movement style and the fact she snorts when she laughs.
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Emily Jaikaran is a 23-year-old Canadian born artist currently working within the United States. After completing a competitive dance career from the age of 6 to the age of 18, Emily made the decision to continue her education at Point Park University. She graduated from Point Park University in the spring of May 2017. While at Point Park, Emily was able to be apart of several productions. She performed in the piece HELPLESS PEOPLE by MADBOOTS DANCE, a new work that was made for the students and performed at the Byham Theatre in downtown Pittsburgh. She was also a part of David Norsworthy’s piece A view from here. A new work about perception and interaction. The final production in which she performed was Missa Brevis by Jose Limon. Since graduating in May, Emily has worked with Jane Franklin Dance on a project during the summer, participating in the performance of Aflight. Emily has also joined Shana Simmons Dance for their performance of The Missing Peace which premiered in March in Pittsburgh, PA. She has also performed at Squawkfest at IUP with Shana Simmons Dance. Emily has also guest taught at several places in the Pittsburgh area. 

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JOANNA DEHLER
DANCER

Year started with SSD: 2017
Favorite thing about her: She's always positive. And inquisitive. She asks questions. Like...a lot of questions. 
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Born and raised in Pittsburgh, JoAnna Dehler is a proud University of Pittsburgh alumna, graduating in 2017 with a B.S. in Psychology and a B.A. in Communication & Rhetoric. During her time at Pitt, JoAnna performed in David Bernabo’s The Reduction (2015) as part of the New Hazlett Theater's CSA performance series. Following graduation, JoAnna joined Shana Simmons Dance to perform in The Missing Peace, and has adored her time with the Pittsburgh based company since. She has most recently performed in SSD’s Constructed Sight (2020) and Dance & Discussion (2020).

JoAnna’s passion is bringing dance and performing arts to kids in her community. She has choreographed three commissioned works for the Pitt Dance Ensemble, and she choreographs and coaches nationally competitive dance and baton twirling teams through Tournament Indoor Association’s Exquisite Performance Ensemble. She enjoys teaching in all corners of the city and is completing her seventh residency as an Attack Theatre Teaching Artist.

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ALX GOLEMBIEWSKI
​DANCER

Year started with SSD: 2017
Favorite thing about them: Their expression through their dancing is amazing, even though they are a quiet sort of person! 
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Alx Golembiewski is originally from southern California where they trained in both classical and neoclassical forms of dance. Alx moved to Pittsburgh at the age of 16 to train under the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater school and received training in modern, ballet, and jazz techniques for four years. During their time at school, they fell in love with choreography and modern dance. Alx uses their creativity and dynamic movement almost as a second language and strives to share that experience with others.

Alx premiered with Shana Simmons Dance in The Missing Peace(2018) and enjoys the variety of works they have been a part of. Alx was recently a part of the online dance for film series Constructed Sight (2020/2021/2022) and performed a solo work for SSD at the PA Governor's Women's History Month Event in 2021.

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administrative assistant

Jothika Gorur is an Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and educator from Pittsburgh PA. Trained primarily in Bharatanatyam, an Indian classical dance form; Jothika has performed at US based cultural events, winning 1st place at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana (Varnam Category), Hindu Dharma Arts, and the Raga-Rhythm Dance Competition. She has performed in multiple programs at the S.V. Temple (Pittsburgh, PA) and was selected to perform at The Meenakshi Temple (Pearland, TX) and the One World Festival (Lancaster, PA).

Additionally, Jothika performed for various online platforms, including Virtual Arts for Humanity and The Tandavam. Jothika graduated from The University of Pittsburgh where she received her BA in Sociology and a Certificate in Global Health Studies. During her undergraduate years, she served as captain and later on advisor for Nrityamala, Pittsburgh's collegiate Indian classical dance team.

​As a leader of the team, Jothika became a 2019 Srinivasa Prasad International Foundation for the Performing Arts (SPIFPA) Award Recipient and co-founded NRITYAPRIYA, Nrityamala's first virtual benefit showcase that raised $2,760 for charity. She was an executive board member for Dhirana, Pittsburgh's intercollegiate classical dance competition and has attended workshops under renowned artists including "Padma Bhushan" Dr. Saroja Vaidynathan and "Kalaimamani" Shri Madurai R Muralidharan. She is an Assistant Dance Instructor at Natyakriya School of Dance and SSD's Administrative Assistant.

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 shanasimmonsdance@gmail.com.
​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

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

Years Prior:
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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thank you for your continual support:

Attack Theatre, Bodiography, The Pilates Centre Wildwood, Cajoli, Off the Wall Productions, Square Cafe, Pittsburgh Dance Council, James Wirt & Dan Howell / Keller Williams Reality, Wally & Sue Phillips, The Heinz Small Arts Initiative

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SHANA SIMMONS DANCE