The board of Dance Educators Association of Washington announced the recipient of the 2018 Dance Educator of the Year Award: Shannon Barnes.
Shannon Barnes is a dance teaching artist and arts administrator with over twenty years of experience in dance education. Shannon has worked with Pacific Northwest Ballet's Community Education Programs since 2002 and is currently the Community Education Programs Curriculum Manager and a teaching artist for the programs working primarily in Seattle Public Schools. In addition to her work at PNB, Shannon's experience includes creating inclusive dance opportunities for people with and without disabilities, an internship with Candace- a London-based inclusive dance company, and working as a dance specialist in primary schools in Bath, England. Shannon served on the Board of the Dance Educators Association of Washington for five years and is adjunct faculty for Cornish College of the Arts Dance Department and a guest instructor for Seattle University. Shannon earned a B.A. in Dance and Psychology from the University of Washington and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Dance in Community from Laban, London. Dedicated to inclusivity, accessibility, and equity, she facilitates opportunities to empower students to be dance artists, critical thinkers, and collaborators and works to support schools and teachers in developing creative learning cultures.
Shannon works with young students in the public schools, mentors emerging dance teachers, creates developmentally appropriate lessons for all students - including seniors and students with disabilities, and teaches classroom teachers how to incorporate movement into their classroom. Her nominators shared numerous stories and examples of how Shannon exemplifies the mission of DEAW.