Shannen Oniell

Shannen O’Neill is a previous professional dancer whose career spanned stage and sea. She began training at the age two, right here at Dance Explosion, where she became a national title winner, and went on to attend the prestigious Baltimore School for the Arts. Shannen earned her BFA in Dance and BA in Economics from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, entering college as a recipient of the Fred and Adele Astaire Award for Excellence in Tap.

 

Her diverse credits include serving as an animation template dancer for Nickelodeon Studios, performing with Kid Pivot in Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival, and appearing in a Cunningham MinEvent. In high school, she was a company dancer for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s annual Christmas Spectacular.

 

Shortly after graduation, Shannen signed her first professional contract with Norwegian Creative Studios, which led to principal showgirl roles with Royal Caribbean Productions. Over the course of her time at sea, she traveled to more than 39 countries, worked alongside colleagues from over 50 nationalities, and served as a Dance Captain, leading and maintaining show quality across a variety of large-scale productions. She prided herself on blending technical excellence with dynamic stage presence, reflecting a lifelong dedication to her craft.

 

Now, she is thrilled to return to the place where it all began and help shape the future of dance for the next generation.