Today we’d like to introduce you to Shenandoah Simmers.
Hi Shenandoah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hello my name is Shenandoah Simmers, and I am born and based in Bellflower, CA. I’m a professional dancer and a registered behavior technician (RBT) that is currently going to grad school to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). My childhood and my family has a huge part to play in choosing the career path I’m on. In elementary school, I danced for the my school district’s Ensemble where I found my love for dance. However, I stopped dancing from 2012-2022 due to not being aware of the resources around me and not having a dance team at the schools I attended. That is when I found my love for helping others and taking care of our future generation, our children.
I originally went to college to become a school counselor; however, I found my love ABA therapy along the way. I began doing ABA therapy back in 2019, took a break, and have been back since 2024. My clients do not know this, but this jobs heals me as much as it helps them. My late sister, Frances Faye, was non-verbal due to epilepsy, so I had a very hard time communicating and understanding her growing up. With my current career, I am able to witness life-changing goals be accomplished with my kiddos as they learn how to communicate and manage their behaviors, so I decided to go back to grad school to further my career. At the same time, I decided in 2022 to start dancing again.
At first, I began taking dance classes with friends to mend a heart break. Then I realized how much I loved dance as a child, and I wanted to grow and learn as much as I could for the time I lost. It is now 2025, and I am signed to a dance agency, have been on different dance teams, performed & completed at dance competitions, and even booked jobs including music videos, live performances, and a commercial with Footlocker x Uggs! It’s a busy life balancing being a RBT, going to school to become a BCBA, and being a professional dancer that requires many hours in rehearsals and classes to train and maintain my skills. On the other hand, it’s a blessing to work in multiple careers that I have such a passion for.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This has been a very bumpy road with many twists and turns along the way. When I first went to college, I really had no clue what route I was going to take, and I never thought I would find my way back to dance. I wanted to do it all at once, so I went to school part time, had a part-time job, and would train in dance classes 3 times a week on top of two rehearsals a week for a dance team. I would have a burn out at least every three months. I’m grateful for all of my experiences that helped me further both of my careers, but if I could do anything different, I would make sure I put more rest in my schedule. I went through every emotion trying to finish school and pursue dance at the same time, debating if any of it was worth it, but I knew learning and dancing made me happy. Helping others and supporting my community makes me happy. Coming back to why I started all of this got me through the struggles, and the support of my loved ones and my community made this journey worth it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and a professional dancer that specializes in hip-hop and heels! During the day, I work with children with Autism and by night, I am training my skills as a professional dancer at different classes and at team rehearsals. I am most known in both of these professions for my kindness and how much I care for my community. I am most proud of how far I came in both of these careers. I became a BT in 2021, took a break from it, became a RBT in 2024, and I’m now going to grad school to become a BCAB. I started my dance career 3 years ago, and I have been signed to an agency, booked jobs, and dance with different teams. What sets me apart from others is my ability to learn fast, the care I feel about my community, and how hard I work to ensure I’m consistently growing.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I wouldn’t say this is surprising, but I am very grateful for every person I have worked with, supported me, and been there for me whether it was work-related or life-related. My community has helped me so much to get this far, and I want them to know how grateful I am for them to help me get this far.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doaahhh?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/T_KMffTgNaI?si=KBfo_x64o-cH7AmP
Image Credits
Shots by Kimberly Shaul & James Carranza
IG: @kimberlydoesitall
@jamescarranza
