Shannon Dunne is a percussive dancer, musician, actress, performing artist, choreographer, activist, medievalist, amateur anthropologist, comedian, parent, teacher, and ponderer. She makes her home near Washington, D.C.
She is best known for her percussive dancing (specifically sean-nós dancing), which the Washington Post described as “Playful musicality…spirited and fun!” Shannon has performed theaters and festivals all over North America and Ireland, including: the Kennedy Center’s Millenium… Show more Stage, The Birchmere (VA), Comhaltas Ceoltori Eirann North American Convention, ICONS Festival (Boston), Saline Celic Festival (MI), the University of Milwaulkee Sean-nos Festival (WI), Choilin Sean Dharach Festival (Ireland), Brennan’s (Nova Scotia), Greyfox Music Festival (NY), the Institute of Musical Traditions (MD), the Rams Head (MD), Potomac Celtic Festival (VA) and the Mainstay (MD).
Shannon has toured internationally with Childsplay, Kitchen Quartet, The Wren Girls: American Women in Sean-nós Dance and as a principal dancer for Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble from 2007-2010. She has appeared as guest artist with world renowned music acts, such as The Teetotalers, Solas, Flook, Karan Casey, Kevin Crawford, Killian Vallely, Tony DeMarco, Laura Byrne, Billy McComiskey, Tim O’Brien, Bruce Molsky, and Lilt. Her choreography has been performed by Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble, Kieran Jordan Dancers, Maldon Meehan Dancers, Teelin Irish Dance Company, the Reston Players, Momentum Dance Theater and as part of the Joy of Motion Choreography Showcases (2007-2011).
Shannon is also a renowned teacher of sean-nós/percussive dance. She has studied Connemara sean-nós dance (through funding by the DCCAH) with Paidraic O’Hoibicin, Roisin NiMhanin, Mick Mulkerrin & Mairead Casey, Clare battering with Aidan Vaughan, and Muenster (old-style) step dance with Patrick O’Dea. She also studied flatfooting/clogging with Eileen Carson, Megan Downes and Christine Galante.
Shannon is the founder/director of Camp Shenanigans, a child-driven performing arts program for children on Capitol Hill, and Shannon Dunne Dance, a multigenerational sean-nós dance group dedicated to the preserving the steps and values of the dance form. She is the Movement Atelierista at School Within School on Capitol Hill, is graduate of the University of Notre Dame (medieval studies) and holds a certificate from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (NYC).
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