SHAPIRO & SMITH DANCE
WE perform tales of beauty and biting wit that run the gamut from the provocative to the hilarious. Dancing with breathtaking physicality and emotional depth, we tell stories driven by human passion, courage, and absurdity. Located in Minneapolis we have performed all over the world from New York City to Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Danial Shapiro & Joanie Smith began the company in New York City in 1987, combining athletic virtuosity and meaningful movement to weave dance-theater that brings clarity and focus to the fog of real-life, illuminating who we are to ourselves and each other. In 1995, Minneapolis became their new home. And since Danny’s passing in 2006, Joanie and company have continued their mission to reflect, connect, include, and encourage people from all walks of life, whether performing on stage, teaching dance students, or engaging communities.
PHOTO: Company Dancers Mirabai Miller and Sam Meryhew in BOLERO.
Shapiro & Smith Dance’s mission is to make contemporary choreography accessible to a wide range of audiences embracing inclusivity and equity in all its arts activities.
We offer thrilling performances and unique arts activities for populations including survivors of domestic violence; female first responders; mental health and senior centers; and dance students in colleges and studios.
Every Body Speaks workshops connect the artists of Shapiro & Smith Dance with unique populations and showcase the power of movement to communicate thoughts, feelings and ideas on the stage and in our everyday lives. These workshops have grown out of our seven-year partnership with the Tubman organization in Minneapolis, MN and reach women in shelters, seniors, female first responders, and dance students across Minnesota.
We bring more than a stage experience wherever we tour. We bring our community together with yours.
PHOTO: Every Body Speaks Event with Female Firefighters and community - Ely, MN.
“Women dancers of varying shapes and sizes were a high point of Shapiro & Smith show.”
“The entire cast of BOLERO would be good pickings for the fire department! ”
Your support is crucial to our work.
Give to the Max is an opportunity for small nonprofit organizations like us to reach out broadly to our community. Ticket sales and arts grants are not enough to sustain the rehearsal process for our artists, the workshops we bring to shelters, female firefighters and senior centers as well as the pre-professional training we provide dance students.
Please consider us among the arts and charity groups you partner with this year. Below is a quick 5-minute recap of the work we can accomplish with your generosity.
