Shura Baryshnikov

About Shura

Shura Baryshnikov is an interdisciplinary artist who works broadly as a dancer, actor, improvisor, choreographer, and somatic movement educator. Performing improvisation, set choreography, as well as contemporary text and classical verse, Baryshnikov is compelled to question ideals of specialization in the performing arts. Baryshnikov has co-founded a number of dance projects, including Doppelgänger Dance Collective, a Providence-based dance company dedicated to the curation and commission of new contemporary works, and the Contact Improvisation research and performance ensemble Set Go with U.S. based dancers Paul Singh, Sarah Konner, Aaron Brandes, and Bradley Teal Ellis. Ultimately interested in applications of practice in pedagogy, process, and performance, Baryshnikov employs work in Viewpoints Technique, Safety Release Technique, Action Theater, and Contact Improvisation to co-create deeply-sensitized, collaborative spaces.

​Most recently, Baryshnikov served as movement designer for Anne Bogart's critically acclaimed production of The Handmaid's Tale at Boston Lyric Opera and Bridge Repertory Theater's award-winning production of George Brant's Dark Room. Other design and choreography credits include Trinity Repertory Company, The Wilbury Theatre Group, Khambatta Dance Company, and Urbanity Dance. As a freelance dancer, Baryshnikov has performed and created work with Lorraine Chapman the Company, Betsy Miller Dance Projects, ali kenner brodsky & co., Heidi Henderson, Gabriel Forestieri, Lostwax Multimedia Dance, and Festival Ballet Providence, among others; her solo and improvised performance projects have been presented nationally and internationally. Baryshnikov has performed theatrical roles with The Gamm, Odyssey Opera, Trinity Repertory Company, and Bridge Repertory Theater. She is Head of Physical Theatre for the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Program in the Department of Theatre Arts and Performance Studies at Brown University where she has instructed since 2011. She has also instructed at MIT, Dean College, and Connecticut College, among other institutions.