Deaf from birth, Zahna started her dance training with the City Ballet School in San Francisco. She expanded her dance background when she was accepted to the San Francisco School of the Arts (SOTA) by training with Elvia Marta in modern, jazz, African, ballet, hip hop, and choreography, as well as participating in Alonzo King’s Lines Pre-Professional Summer Programs.

Upon graduating from SOTA in 2003, Zahna attended UCI, double majoring in chemistry and dance. At UCI, she trained and performed in over 20 performances in various dance styles, working with fellow peers, graduate students, and distinguished faculty such as Lisa Naugle, David Allan, and Donald McKayle. Upon graduating from UCI with a BS in Chemistry and a BFA in Dance Performance, Zahna moved to San Diego to work full-time at Vertex Pharmaceuticals and also performed with the Mesa College Dance Company, with CAC Repertory Dance Theatre (CACRDT), Bite Dance Company, Visionary Dance Theatre, and in Jean Isaac’s Trolley Dances 2013.

Zahna has now relocated back to the Bay Area and is the Acting Assistant Director for both Urban Jazz Dance Company and the Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival (BAIDDF) under Antoine Hunter, Founder, and Director, and a full-time Office Manager at a small fiduciary office in San Francisco. Not only does she love performing and coordinating/conducting workshops for Urban Jazz Dance Company and BAIDDF, but she has also performed with Epiphany Productions for Alameda Island City Waterways.

Zahna Simon will perform the 31st January at 22:30 in the Main Hall of the Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ. Buy your tickets here!