Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance

 
 

"I was startled, the first time I saw the choreography of Shannon Hummel, by how completely the dancers in her company Cora Dance seemed to own the pieces that they performed. And what they performed was often like a vivid, true short story, a mix, perhaps, of Eudora Welty and Elizabeth Bowen. Her pieces, whether solos or group dances, evoke whole small universes of emotions and relationships, both simple and complex. Ms. Hummel's dances are like vividly detailed yet elliptical short stories, economical and eloquent."

–THE NEW YORK TIMES

The professional company Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance performs the intricate, accessible, sophisticated work of Founding Artistic Director Shannon Hummel. Founded in 1998 in New York City, SH/CD quickly developed a reputation for critically acclaimed work that was shared with diverse audiences not only on some of the city's finest stages but also in backyards, living rooms, cars, public parks and community spaces, bringing dance to people where they live. In 2023, SH/CD established dual residency in New York and Virginia, expanding access to professional dance performance within rural and urban communities. Fluent in the emotion, beauty, and awkwardness that make us all human, Hummel’s moving work - both in content and in manner of presentation - aims to create connection between people, onstage and off.

Current Work:
Because

 

Selected recent works:

 
 

For a more extensive list of past works and projects, please visit Cora Dance’s Vimeo Page.

 

Video Credits:

Selected excerpts from works by Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance. Music by Hans Bilger, Choreography by Shannon Hummel in collaboration with the performers. Performers in order of appearance:

  • Kelly Bartnik in "Prey", at BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange, Brooklyn, NY

  • Ammara Shafqat and Keon Washington in "Because" at The Clifton Forge Armory, Clifton Forge, VA

  • Katie Dean and Kelsey Kramer in "gifts" at Treasure Island Storage, Brooklyn, NY

  • Z'Yanah Gonzalez and Junie Marsh in "Grove" at The Underground of the Historic Masonic Theatre, Clifton Forge, VA

  • Anais Dallett and Evangelina Vargas in "Elsewhere" at Cora Dance Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY

  • Ross Honaker and Ammara Shafqat in "down here" (2024 cast) at The Hillert Auditorium of the Historic Masonic Theatre, Clifton Forge, VA

  • Dean and Kramer in "gifts" at Treasure Island Storage, Brooklyn, NY

  • Nikki Assanti, Honaker, Shafqat, and Washington in "Because" at The Clifton Forge Armory, Clifton Forge, VA

  • Solomon Goodwin and Nadia Tykulsker in "CAR from Common Dances" in Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY

  • Anais Dallett and Kramer in "Grove" at The Underground of the Historic Masonic Theatre, Clifton Forge, VA

  • Dean and Kramer in "gifts"

  • Tykulsker in "Cluck" at BAM/Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY

  • Assanti and Shafqat in "Because"

  • Dean and Calia Marshall in "down here" (2015 cast) at BAM/Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn, NY

  • Washington in "Because"

  • Kelsey Kramer in "Grove"

  • Dean and Kramer in "gifts"

  • Dean in "Grove"

  • Assanti, Honaker, Shafqat, and Washington in "Because