Shannon Watters, M.F.A.

A native of Texas, Shannon Watters is an Adjunct Professor of dance, instructor, and choreographer.  She was comprehensively certified in Power Pilates and certified with Cecchetti Council of America (Grades I and II).

Shannon began her training at Dallas Repertoire Ballet and Academy of Dance Arts under the tutelage of Kathy Willsey, Anna Donovan, Thom Clower, Megan Buckland, Shelly Bramhall, and Beth Pliler. She has trained in jazz, ballet, pointe, lyrical, contemporary, modern, hip-hop, tap, and aerial work. She was awarded the Texas Achievements for the Gifted & Talented Scholarship and OMNI Richardson Arts Council Scholarship before attending Oklahoma City University her freshman year in college. While at OCU, Shannon performed with American Spirit Dance Company and OCU Stars Pep Dancers. She completed her undergraduate studies at Southern Methodist University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a B.B.A. in Finance and Economics. Shannon later completed her M.F.A. in Dance and Choreography at Jacksonville University, where she was a Dean's Award recipient in Fall 2013.  

Shannon has performed with a European modern and jazz tour through Austria, Germany, and Italy; Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, where she was a performer, aerial artist, and costume mistress; Dallas Dance Company; AT&T, Bally Total Fitness, BeautiControl, Carpet One, and Toni & Guy industrials; NBC 5 Health & Fitness Expo; and Dallas Cowboys Half-Time Shows with Creed, Randy Jackson, and Jessica Simpson.

She has been teaching since 2004 and has led classes and workshops for the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Dallas Stars Ice Girls, Texas Woman's University, Collin College, Tarrant County Community College, Jacksonville University, Berkner High School, Allen High School, Sunset High School, McMillan Junior High School, Bally Total Fitness Promotions Team, Dallas Dance Company, Academy of Dance Arts, and other private studios.

As a choreographer, Dallas Dance Company, Dallas Repertoire Ballet, Academy of Dance Arts, Jacksonville University, Collin College, Allen High School, Sunset High School, Bally Total Fitness, among others have showcased Shannon’s work.  Her works have been performed nationally and internationally. The pieces she has set at Academy of Dance Arts have received national titles, outstanding choreography awards, high score overall routines, and the Federation of Dance Competitions FDC People’s Choice Award. 

Shannon's first evening-length work, just be., explored the nature of being through traditional and non-traditional performative means. Manny Mendoza (TheaterJones and Dallas Morning News) noted how  "[t]he close proximity of performers touching and talking to spectators kept both groups on their toes, focused and in the moment. It turned out that sensory overload can rivet attention rather than distract it, demystifying and personalizing the experience." He went on to say that "[r]ather than controlling the audience, Watters demanded its attention, knowingly questioning the usual standoffish relationship between performer and viewer."

Currently, Shannon is an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Tarrant County College. She also teaches and choreographs at the Academy of Dance Arts in Allen, Texas.