shanna vanderwerker
musical theatre

Shanna VanDerwerker grew up dancing in Ft. Washington, MD and received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Point Park University. Shanna most recently collaborated with her husband to choreograph Lysistrata Jones for Refuge Theater Project in Chicago, IL. Other choreography credits include South Pacific, Beauty and the Beast and Singin’ In The Rain at The Fireside Theater. Shanna has been Christopher Gattelli’s associate/assistant for over 10 years, including his Associate Choreographer of Broadway’s Amazing Grace and High Fidelity.

Her performing credits include Lady in Green in Singin’ In the Rain at
the Fireside Theater, swing in the Broadway company of Wicked, Kiss Me, Kate at TUTS in Houston, TX, company member of dre.dance with directors Andrew Palermo and Taye Diggs, and several other shows at The Fireside. Shanna received her professional debut performing in Kids of the Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

After over four years as the Dance Captain of the First National Tour of Wicked, Shanna has relocated to Chicago where she is on faculty at CCPA of Roosevelt University and Dovetail Studios.

As an educator, Shanna has taught at the 2014 International Thespian Festival in Lincoln, NE and was the choreographer of the opening celebration of the 2015 International Thespian Festival, The Music of Alan Menken. She has taught master classes at dance studios and conventions all over the country, including the Inaside Company Summer Intensive, One Family National Convention, DEA and DMA, and has been a guest teacher at Columbia College of Chicago and Point Park University.