DANA GENSHAFT
Artistic Director
Dana Genshaft was born in Moscow, where she began her early dance training. Upon moving to NYC with her family, Dana continued studies at the School of American Ballet, Kirov Academy of Ballet, and finally the Paris Opera Ballet School prior to joining the San Francisco Ballet in 2000, promoted to soloist in 2008. Dana’s repertory includes both classical and contemporary works by Petipa, Balanchine, Robbins, Cranko, Ashton, Nuemier, Forsythe, Possokhov, Morris, Taylor, McGregor, Wheeldon, Liang, among others. In 2015, Dana joined the faculty of the San Francisco Ballet school, under Patrick Armand, where she began teaching a wide array of classes, Ballet, Contemporary and Improvisation...in particular supporting the development of the choreographic workshop initiatives. In 2016, Dana was selected to participate in the NY Choreographic Institute, jump starting her choreographic career. The same year, Dana joined SFDanceworks inaugural season, performing works by Cerrudo and Saunders, as well as choreographing a solo work, entitled “Portrait”, which has since then been adapted to film and screened in festivals globally including SFDanceFilmFestival, Paris Independent Film Festival, Montreal Independent Film Festival, Prague International Indie Film Festival, and Berlin International Art Film Festival. Notably her choreography is featured in George Harrison’s official music video, ‘What is Life’. Dana continues to teach, mentor and choreograph. Her commissions include the Washington Ballet, Ballet Met: Columbus, Ohio, The Cincinnati Ballet, Ballet Idaho, SFBallet Training program, and ABT Studio Company. Her works have been seen at ‘Fall For Dance’ in NYC, Guggenheim Works and Process, and Marquee TV. Dana was the recipient of the 2018 Princess Grace Award for choreography. In October of 2021, Dana was appointed Interim Artistic Director for SFDanceworks’ 2022 performance season, and Artistic Director beginning Fall 2022.
Photo: Alex Reneff-Olson