Artistic Biography
Ting-Yu Chen, artistic director/choreographer/dancer


Shanon Castle, dancer
Attended Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia where she graduated in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. While there, she worked with faculty choreographers Ting-Yu Chen, Erica Helm, Alan Arnett, Kim Gibilisco, John Mead, Stacy Palatt, and Rodolphe Cassand, as well as guest artists Maurice Fraga, Diane McCarthy, Rebecca Lazier and many others. She was also a part of Aberto Del Saz’s reconstruction of Murray Louis’ Bach Suite in 2007. Hailing from Rochester New York, Shanon has toured throughout the northeastern United States and parts of Spain and Ireland. She attended the Paul Taylor Summer Intensive in the summer of 2007 and has had her choreography televised throughout Virginia during the Shenandoah University Christmas Gala of 2005. She has also danced as a guest artist at several venues, including performances in West Virginia, Virginia, and New York. This is Shanon’s first season with Flying Lions Dance Company.

Ricki Marion, dancer
Earned both her BFA, Dance Performance and Choreography and MS, Arts Administration from Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University. Ms. Marion has danced professionally with Cross Currents, Jane Franklin Dance, Carla & Company, and currently performs with Flying Lions Dance Company. Additionally, her choreography has been presented at Shenandoah University Dance Concerts, Winchester, Virginia; Ulyonovsk State University, Ulyonovsk, Russia; and the American College Dance Festival. Ricki currently performs with the Flying Lions Dance Company, teaches dance classes in Ashburn, Virginia, and works at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts.

Megan Shankwitz, dancer
A native Californian, attended Shenandoah University where she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. There she has had the privilege to work with faculty choreographers Ting-Yu Chen, Alan Arnett, Erica Helm, Stacy Pallatt, John Mead, Rodolphe Cassand, and Kim Gibilisco, as well as guest artists Maurice Fraga, Diane McCarthy, Rebecca Lazier, and many more. In 2007, Alberto Del Saz selected her for the reconstruction of Murray Louis’ Bach Suite. With Shenandoah Dance Ensemble, Megan has performed overseas in Spain, an in many regional performances throughout in the northeastern United States as a member of the Dance Departments touring ensemble. Megan attended Moving People Dance Theatre’s 2007 Summer Program in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she worked with the Moving People faculty as well as Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet, Dancing Earth, and John Lehrer (company director of Lehrerdance Company). In May 2008, she made her professional debut as a company member of KimGibiliscoDances in New York City. She is happy to be a member of Flying Lions Dance Company.

Heather Reid, costumer
Graduated from Shenandoah University with her BFA in Dance in May of 2007. While earning that degree she spent her spare time, when she wasn't in class or rehearsing, in the Costume Shop. Upon graduation she was hired on staff at the University as the Costume Shop Manager. Some of her greatest dance performances happened in the summer of 2007 when she went with a group of dancers on a performance tour through Ireland and Spain and some of her greatest costume creations could be seen on stage during Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre's 2008 season. Heather is very happy, now, to have the opportunity to combine her two loves of costumes and dance.