ADMINISTRATION
Shawn Short, Producing Artistic Director
Shawn has studied with nationally and internationally acclaimed artists including faculty and dancers from Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Lines Ballet, Washington Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dance Institute of Washington, Dance Alloy, Philadanco, Towson University, Baltimore and Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts. As a student of ballet pedagogy, Shawn studied with John White, Margarita De Saa and the Washington School of Ballet Director Kee Juan Han. Shawn holds a BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Theatre Management from Howard University. Presently, he is Professor of Ballet at Catholic University of America and a 2013 MFA Candidate in Dance at University Of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Shawn is also a fiscally sponsored artist through the New York Foundation for the Arts.
Shawn’s performance credits include work with K2 Dance, Adrian Bolton Dance, El Tearto de Danza Contemporeanea El Salvador, and Bolton/Smith. He has also served as a guest artist with Dance Alloy in Pennsylvania.
In 2008, Catholic University of America’s Benjamin T. Rome School of Music commissioned Shawn to choreograph an evening worked called “Mother’s Blood” to a musical score composed by Dr. Andrew Simpson.
Shawn has choreographed for The Dance Institute of Washington and The Washington Ballet School of Ballet at THEARC. His has presented his works at the Capital Fringe Festival, Greater Washington Urban League National Conference, Southeastern University, Artists' Bloc 12X6 Series, Harke Theatre, Jack Guidone Theatre Space, Lang Theatre, Atlas Theatre Complex Lab II Theatre, THEARC Theatre, Joe’s Movement Emporium, DC Parks and Recreation, and Brooklyn Arts Exchange. Shawn was the Resident Choreographer for the Kelsey Collie Children's Theatre for six years.
Steven Berry, Development Director
Steven Berry is a non-profit practitioner with over 10 years of experience serving youth and adults in the District of Columbia. Curricula developer, certification trainer, program director, executive level manager and grant writer, Steven began his career as an Intern and held numerous positions while delivering technology training to underserved segments in some of the city’s most troubled neighborhoods. This experience helped him realize his passion for the arts. Currently serving as the Outreach and External Relations Director of the Dissonance Dance Theatre, Steven believes that the arts are the true scaffolds of our community. A native of the Washington Metropolitan Area, Steven is a scholarship recipient and currently studying Business at University of Maryland University College.
Chris Holland, Technical Director
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, moved to DC two years ago, and is very excited to be working with Dissonance Dance Theatre. He currently is the lighting designer for Matter of Reaction Movement Project in Chicago, IL, and has worked locally with Taffety Punk Theatre, Journeymen Theatre Ensemble, and Life Rhythm Move Project. Chris has also worked with the Houston Ballet, Paragon Music Theatre, Purdue Repertory Dance Company, Artists Collaborative Theatre, Bluegrass Youth Ballet, School for the Creative and Performing Arts, and toured with the Kentucky Ballet Theatre. He has earned his degree in theatre design & technology from the University of Kentucky and his MFA from Purdue University.
Sergey Apasov, House Photographer
With over 20 years of experience, Sergey hails from Russia. He is a true visual artist who works in all media of fine arts from painting, photography, web and graphic design. His photography is captivating, stunning and elegant. Sergey Apasov resides in Maryland with his wife and children. Sergey has been Dissonance Dance Theatre's house photographer for 3 years.
