sjgrayso@usc.edu

Shannon Johnson Grayson is a native of Baton Rouge, La. She graduated from Howard University with a BFA in Dance Arts under the direction of Dr. Sherrill Berryman Johnson, and received summer intensive scholarships to Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Ronald K. Brown/Evidence and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. She continued her training with scholarships to Jacob’s Pillow Jazz/Musical Theatre Program, Jacob’s Pillow Choreographers Lab and Nathan Trice Summer Dance Intensive. She relocated to Chicago as a Lou Conte Dance Studio (LCDS) scholarship student under the direction of Claire Bataille, and performed with Muntu Dance Theatre and Winifred Haun & Dancers. Her Chicago training experiences furthered her development artistically as a dancer, dance educator, teacher, choreographer and eventually led to a full time teaching position for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) with the LCDS, HSDC Youth Dance Program, HSDC Education & Community Programs and HSCD Professional Pilot Program. She has been an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College Chicago and Dominican University, River Forest, Ill. In Los Angeles, she has assisted Sarah Anindo Marshall, performed with the Marshall Dance Company and continues to work as freelance choreographer and performer.

Grayson is a certified Horton Technique instructor through the Ailey School, NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach. She has choreographed for the Chicago Freelance Dance Project, Columbia College Chicago and DanceWorks Chicago DanceChance. She continues to train and teach extensively in various techniques including Hip Hop, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Contemporary, Ballet, African, Afro Cuban and Dunham Technique.