Shaina and Bryan began working together in 2014 when their first collaboration, “Bench Duet”, was selected as the DanceNOW at Joe’s Pub “Audience Choice Award” Challenge Winner. From 2015-16 they were East Village Dance Project (NYC) Company in Residence and received the Laban Institute of Movement Studies – Atelier Award. From 2016-18 Shaina and Bryan were chosen to participate in Pentacle’s 2-year research and artist capacity-building program, “Administrative Resource Team (A.R.T.). In 2017 they were awarded a creative space grant by The Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York and were Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Workspace Program Recipients for the 2017-18 season. This past summer Shaina and Bryan were invited as the inaugural Dance Artists in Residence at The Wassaic Project as well as invited to Participate in The Watershed Laboratory 2018 at Mt. Tremper Arts in collaboration with Courtney J. Cook, Greg Purnell, and The Illustrious Blacks. Shaina and Bryan relocated to Detroit in July 2019 and, in collaboration with Wayne State University, have launched ‘BAIRA Intensive Detroit’ – Summer and Winter international training intensives for professional/pre-professional dancers. In addition to providing training for professional dancers, BAIRA has collaborated with Collective Sweat Detroit and others to organize and share movement workshops for all levels. Since their relocation, BAIRA’s choreographic work has been presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, The Bonstelle Theatre, Andy Arts Center and LightBox Theater.
Shaina Baira was born and raised in Victoria, Texas and received her BFA in Dance at the University of Iowa. She completed her certification as a Movement Analyst at the Laban Institute of Movement Studies, and completed studies in religion and philosophy at the New York All Faiths Seminary International. She has performed and taught in Haiti, Israel, Italy the UK, Belgium, and through the USA. She is an ordained Interfaith Minister and member of The Feath3r Theory. Currently, Shaina is an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Wayne State University, is a Detroit based Wedding Officiant and actively serves as a mentor for young dancers.
Bryan Baira is originally from Carleton, MI, Bryan is a graduate of Wayne State University with a B.F.A in dance. He has performed and taught around the world in places such as Colombia, South Korea, Turkey, Tajikistan, and Armenia; as well as throughout NYC and the U.S. He has danced with Nicholas Leichter Dance, Brian Brooks Moving Company, David Dorfman Dance and ThirdRailProjects. Bryan is an active sound designer/musician and is a member of The Feath3r Theory. Bryan is honored to have been selected as one of Dance Magazine’s ‘Top 25 to Watch’ for 2013, and is also an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Wayne State University.