PHOTO: Kitoko Chargois

photo: Rachel Neville

Shana Simmons Dance strives to be on the forefront of both social issues and current dance topics and trends. Focusing on a project based dance company enhances these pursuits. Our projects are thematic in nature, allowing the creative process to be intensified and the meaning of the works to be clear.

Projects:
(for more detailed information, click on links below or within the Projects tab)

Constructed Sight Dance Film Festival (2020-present)-- Presenting International dance film artists from around the world, the ten day event will kick off with an in-person Opening Night Screening featuring works from Shana Simmons Dance company members blending Pittsburgh public works of art and dance film and "Panelist Picks" international guest artists creating an hour and a half long show.

Living Landscapes (2020-2023)-- an environmental dance film installation created by Shana Simmons. Displaying earth’s landscapes through site-specific choreography, the experience aims to bring awareness to environmental concerns.

Elevate: a triple bill of female choreographers (2019)-- Three seasoned choreographers from NYC, NJ/NYC, and Pittsburgh came together to explore female empowerment in a compelling evening-length triple bill performance presented as part of a 3-city tour. Choreographers: Heather Bryce (Bryce Dance Company, NYC), Erin Carlisle Norton (The Moving Architects, NJ/NYC), and Shana Simmons (Shana Simmons Dance, PA)
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The Missing Peace (2018)-- Presenting three Pittsburgh choreographers creating works surrounding three separate social issues: Alzheimer's Disease, self identity, and depression/suicide. Choreographers include: Jamie Erin Murphy, Brady Sanders, and Shana Simmons.

Objective I (2015)--  A collaboration with NYC based choreographer Erin Carlisle Norton exploring editing in dance.

PASSENGER (2014)-- A full length dance work honoring the one hundred year anniversary of the extinction of the passenger pigeon. Once the most numerous bird in North America, the species became extinct within 60 years.

Relative Positions (2012)-- A building take over presented at The Union Project in the East Side of Pittsburgh, featuring 12 commissioned artists of all backgrounds: music, dance, spoken word, and visual art.