January 1, 2016

Short Biography

Kemp, a native of Nassau, Bahamas, holds both BFA and MFA degrees from Temple University and is a certified Umfundalai (Contemporary African) teacher. She has taught at The Studio of Dance Arts, Freedom Theatre, The Katherine Dunham Seminar, The American College Dance Festival Association, The National High School Dance Festival, The Pointe Dance Studio, The Christina Cultural Arts Center, DCNS Summer Intensive, Booker T. Washington High School, Muhlenberg and Dean College and West Chester and Temple University. She has worked with several notable artists including,  Bulareyaung Pagarlava, Kun-Yang Lin, Kariamu Welsh, Pat Thomas, Milton Myers, Kim Bears-Bailey, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Molly Misgalla and Rennie Harris.  Her choreography has been presented at the Painted Bride, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C, and other venues in St. Louis, MO, Charlotte, NC and Nassau, Bahamas. Shaness has trained with Rennie Harris’ Puremovement, Philadanco, Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Danse4Nia Repertory Ensemble and Urban Bush Women. She is currently a member of both Kariamu and Company: Traditions and Eleone Dance Theatre and the Cultural Infusion Coordinator of Khepera Charter School. Shaness is thrilled about working with the dancers of the Drexel Dance Ensemble and presenting her new work in January 2016.

Brief Description of my work

This untitled work explores the varied emotions one may experience in the midst of making a difficult, life changing decision. In particular, frustration, uncertainty, longing, fear, curiosity, anxiety, pain and love. Frequently, in these moments we are left feeling TORN, however, a decision MUST be made.