Shonnita is a graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts and Point Park University, where she earned her B.F.A. in modern dance with a minor in business entrepreneurship. Additionally, Ms. Johnson obtained her master’s certificate in Executive Arts and Cultural Strategies from N.A.S. in collaboration with UPenn. She has also served as the evening office manager at The Dance Institute of Washington.

Professionally, Shonnita has danced with various notable groups, including The August Wilson Dance Ensemble, Green Works Project, Mystic India World Tour, Staycee Pearl Dance Project, Lula Washington Dance Theater, the Merce Cunningham Trust, Innergy Dance Company, Tony! Toni! Toné!, and Bel Cantanti Opera. She has choreographed and taught at several dance organizations throughout the DMV area, such as Laurel High School, Baltimore Rock Opera Society, OMA Movement, Divine Dance Institute, and ZD Dance Academy.

For the past five years, Shonnita has dedicated her career as a Maryland State Certified Teacher at Laurel High School. She is proud to have served as the Festival Director for the 2024 Charm City Fringe Festival in Baltimore, Maryland. Currently, Ms. Johnson is the Interim Youth and Families Coordinator for Dance & Bmore. As the Founder and Artistic Director of ShonniJ Productions, her mission focuses on expanding the world arts economy while nurturing the current and next generation of arts consumers and producers.

Shonnita envisions creating a space for artistic development, education, job opportunities, and community engagement. Through dance education, she aims to inspire and cultivate the creative visionaries needed for social change.

“It is imperative that we provide the necessary tools to navigate through life by way of the arts.”—ShonniJ