Shawn Lent
Dance
Chicago, IL
Shawn Renee Lent moves through the world as a social practice dance artist, program manager, writer, nonprofit arts consultant, dance educator, and facilitator. Her work spans diverse settings—from a field in Bosnia to a children’s cancer hospital in revolutionary Egypt—exploring embodied peace, diplomatic innovation, and the arts as a catalyst for social change.
Shawn was the first person ever featured on Seriously Badass Women, a U.S. Fulbright Scholar (2012, Egypt), a United Nations Alliance of Civilizations International Fellow, and the 2014 Commencement Speaker for Millikin University. She was also nominated for both a 2019 3Arts Award in Teaching Artistry and the 2018 Paul Robeson Award from the Actors’ Equity Foundation. From 2013 to 2015, she worked as the EducationUSA Egypt Advising Coordinator at AMIDEAST Cairo (through the U.S. Department of State), earning a rare ambassadorial honor for a non-embassy employee.
Her artistic practice remains deeply community-driven, centering the voices and experiences of those she works with. From leading the 2017 Global Water Dances project in Flint, MI, to directing Dance Peace, which supports children from refugee communities in Chicago, she remains committed to creating spaces where movement fosters connection, resilience, and transformation.
Certified in Integrative Dance and Mental Health First Aid, Shawn emphasizes inclusive, adaptive, and trauma-informed pedagogy. She currently teaches at Music House, LBP School of Dance, and the Ralla Klepak Performing Arts Program, while also guest choreographing for The Edge Performing Arts.
For nine years, Shawn served as Programs and Communications Director for Chicago Dancemakers Forum. From 2020 to 2024, she was a board member and professional development lead for the Illinois Dance Education Organization (ILDEO). Previously, she worked as Arts Integration Program Specialist at Columbia College Chicago’s Center for Community Arts Partnerships, a writer and Alliance Building Lead for Createquity, and an editing contributor for The Clyde Fitch Report.