Shannon, an Illinois native, began dancing at 3 years old. She began training heavily in ballet at age 9 with Homer Bryant, Sherry Moray, Watmora Casey, and Tatyana Mazur. Later, she expanded her training to include jazz, contemporary, lyrical, and hip hop. She practiced at different studios and learned from many Instructors: Amy Hutchings, Ted Jackson, Sam Renzetti, Nick Pupillo, and Lizzie McKenzie just to name a few. In high school, Shannon became one of the original members of Extensions Dance Company directed by Lizzie McKenzie. She also took various classes at Visceral Dance Center, Lou Conte Dance Studio, Ruth Page School of Dance, Joel Hall Dance Center, and attended Alvin Ailey’s Summer Intensive in the Summer of 2008.
Shannon graduated from Pomona College in Claremont, CA with a B.A. in Chemistry and a Dance minor. She choreographed many pieces for the Dance Department’s concerts and worked with several guest choreographers such as Jesse Zarrit, Jessica Harris, Linda Lehovec, Marjani Forte, etc. She had the honor of performing reconstructed classics like “Panorama” by Martha Graham and “Rainbow Etude” by Donald McKayle. Shannon studied Ballet, Modern, African, Laban, and other movement studies with various instructors such as Laurie Cameron, John Pennington, Victoria Koenig, Kim Gadlin, and other guest artists. Since graduating, she has been teaching and choreographing at various studios in the Chicagoland area. She has been in several Carnival performances, a company dancer for Mordine & Company Dance Theater and NoMi Dance Company, a dance instructor for Universal Dance Association (UDA), the assistant dance coach for Providence Catholic, and a dancer for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. In 2018, Shannon performed Joshua Blake Carter’s piece “Kim” at Dance for Life with NoMi Dance Company.
Shannon continues her training at Visceral Dance Center and South Chicago Dance Theatre. She believes that we are forever growing and developing as artists and as people. Her motto is to always leave everything on the stage. Currently, Shannon is the head competitive dance coach at Niles North High School, a board member for the Illinois Dance Coaches Association, a UDA instructor, and teaches and choreographs at Driven 2 Dance and various dance studios and teams in the Midwest. She also judges for various dance competition throughout the United States and on the roster for Impact Dance Adjudicators.
Shannon is super honored and excited to begin her 4th season with the South Chicago Dance Theatre. She is a founding company member, the rehearsal assistant, and executive assistant for SCDT.
“Be fearless. Once we become fearless, life becomes limitless.”
