Bio

Danielle Simmons is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, and student in Richmond, Virginia and is currently in pursuit of her BFA in Dance and Choreography and BS in Exercise Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a 2014 honors graduate of the Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virginia and Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Throughout her training, she has performed in productions by companies such as the Moscow Ballet, Richmond Ballet, and American Ballet Theater. She has also performed in many faculty, student, and guest artists’ works; most notably, Daniel Lewis’s restaging of José Limón’s piece Waldstein Sonata, which was featured at the 2014 Regional High School Dance Festival in Miami, Florida.

Danielle began her teaching experience at the Virginia Beach Conservatory of Dance by voluntarily instructing several ballet and modern classes of varying levels and ages. She now is an instructor at Village Dance Studios teaching a variety of dance forms to students of all levels and ages.

With her education in Exercise Science, Danielle hopes to evoke a surge of awareness regarding the need of regular medical oversight within college and professional dance programs. After graduating from VCU in Summer 2019, she intends to continue her education in graduate school where she plans to do more research regarding strength and conditioning strategies for dancers in hopes of discovering new, innovative methods for injury prevention in the field.

Photo by Torian Ugworji

Photo by Walker Atkinson

Curriculum Vitae

Education

June 2014

Summer 2019

Choreography

November, 2018

Performance

November, 2018

November, 2017

April, 2017

November, 2016

February, 2016

January, May, 2015

April, 2014

Additional Training

Summer, 2014

Summer, 2012

Teaching Experience

2016-present

2012-2014

Other Professional Experience

Summer, 2018

August 2017-present

Awards and Acknowledgements

Fall 2016, Spring 2018

Summer 2017

Summer 2014

Technical Production Experience

March, 2018

May, 2017

February, 2017

November, 2015

September, 2014

High School Diploma with Honors, Kempsville High School, Virginia Beach, VA, the Governor's School for the Arts, Norfolk, VA

BFA and BS with Honors (pending), Dance and Choreography and Exercise Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Et Alia. "Chance to Witness," Fall 2018 VCU Dance & Choreography Senior Project Concert. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA

Songs for Women, Songs for Men. Hallie Chametzky. "Chance to Witness," Fall 2018 VCU Dance & Choreography Senior Project Concert. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA

Rebound Effect. Taylor-Leigh Adams. "VERSUS," Fall 2017 VCU Dance & Choreography Senior Project Concert. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA

Strings of Attachment. Bailey Randolph. "RESIST," Spring 2017 VCU Dance & Choreography Senior Project Concert. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA

Tell Tale. Samantha Nelson. "emerge." Fall 2016 VCU Dance & Choreography Senior Project Concert. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA

Self Portrayal. Ross Honaker. "emerge." Fall 2016 VCU Dance & Choreography Senior Project Concert. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA

TWINE. Dr. Gaynell Sherrod. VCU Dance NOW. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA

Perpetual Matter. Kara Robertson. VCU Dance Student Concert. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA. Richmond Dance Festival. Dogtown Dance Theater, Richmond, VA

Trying By Heal. Samantha Nelson. VCU Dance Student Concert. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA. Richmond Dance Festival. Dogtown Dance Theater, Richmond, VA

Waldstein Sonata. José Limón, restaged by Daniel Lewis. National High School Dance Festival. New World School of the Arts, Miami, FL

Richmond Ballet Summer Intensive Program, Richmond, VA

Richmond Ballet Summer Intensive Program, Norfolk, VA

Todd Rosenlieb Dance Summer Intensive Program, Norfolk, VA

Advanced Ballet, Advanced Modern, Intermediate Jazz, Beginner Pointe, Beginner Hip-Hop. Village Dance Studios, Richmond, VA

Intermediate Ballet, Advanced Modern. Virginia Beach Conservatory of Dance, Ltd., Virginia Beach, VA

Internship. Alliance Physical Therapy, Midlothian, VA

On-site Patient Accounting Representative. RSI Enterprises, Inc., Richmond, VA

Dean's List, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

Dean's List, J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, Richmond, VA

Recipient of Richmond Ballet Summer Intensive Program Scholarship, Richmond, VA

Deck Crew for MK Abadoo’s Octavia’s Brood: Riding the Ox Home. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA

Lighting Designer (in collaboration with Mariah Eastman and Constance York) for Between Now and Then. VCU Freshman Repertory Concert, Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA

Wardrobe for VCU Dance NOW Concert. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA

Assistant Stage Manager for "LANDING," Fall 2015 VCU Dance & Choreography Senior Project Concert. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA

Front of House for Starr Foster Dance Project. Grace Street Theater, Richmond, VA