Eiren Shuman, born in New York City and raised in Philadelphia, received his BFA in dance at Temple University in 2008. Holding dual citizenship with the UK, he went on to train at the conservatory Trinity Laban, returning to Philadelphia in 2011. Having the distinct honor to perform and study dance internationally -not only in Europe but also in West Africa and East Asia- Eiren has received some of the best technique training the world has to offer, as well as extensive and rich choreographic training from multiple perspectives and cultural backgrounds. 

Dedicating his life to performance as well as movement education, Eiren has a long history of teaching movement and fitness to all ages and levels, and began his Master's work at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2014. Since relocating to New York City, Eiren has presented several new live performances, as well as begun exploring mixed media through installation and photography. Outside of the dance community Eiren has also enjoyed working as a figure model for many years, creating a personal practice that celebrates collaboration and combines stillness as well as movement.

In the class room/the studio/the wolrd

With a teaching philosophy that lives inside the “dancing body,” Mr. Shuman’s classes focus on movement tools and techniques from varying styles and perspectives; such as Fitness training, Social Dance, Somatic practices, Ballet, and Hip Hop. In class, students develop confidence in confronting the unknown through these varying modalities, while also being rigorously pushed to increase coordination, strength, and flexibility within their own physicality. This is done through a malleable class design that utilizes multiple forms of embodiment, creative thinking, and inclusion. Incorporating the value of all body types and forms of expression shared through the body, these classes facilitate the progression of student’s personal and communal understanding - applied in motion, in the moment, and in making.

-Teaching Philosophies-

The "best" of something is never just that one thing. The best of something is "that thing" and as many layers of "everything else" underneath it. And so, it is only through community and the collective that we can truly become our best selves.

Perspective in Motion

We cannot become good at something without doing it first. And we always become good at what we practice, regardless of intention, value, or awareness.      

And so first we must try our best, experience as much as possible, and get up from failure as often as we can. Because our minds and bodies only learn through repetition and stress, physical as well as mental. There is a reason our hearts beat the fastest when we are new born.

And so, what better way to teach the juxtapositions of our society and the complex differences between knowing and understanding, than through the same challenges and conflicts that exist within the dancing body.

Dance Is defined as the human form in motion. Therefore, since the body is in constant motion, we are always dancing. Judgment and assessment of value Is another conversation completely. 

When thinking about the word art, like the word dance, it is so general and grand that it's definition must be in the same vain, to accurately encompass the grandness of possibility within it's meaning. And so, art can be simply defined as creation. This enables us to see all life as art, for all life holds creation and the endless possibility of expression, meaning, and value. All life is therefore artistic in nature and holds an artful judgment value determined by our individual perspectives.

Eiren Shuman-Sutton 

dvda700@gmail.com (267) 216-7919

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

    Seasoned Artist, Administrator, Sales associate, and Educator with more than 10 years of experience in fast-paced work environments. Excellent communication and leadership skills with a track record of achieving exceptional results in peer collaboration and customer care.

EDUCATION

New York University, New York, NY        2014 - 2016

MFA in Dance Performance and Education, GPA 3.9 

Trinity Laban, Greenwich, London        2010 - 2011

Post-Graduate Diploma in Dance Performance and Education 

Temple University, Philadelphia, PA        2004 - 2008

BFA in Dance Performance and Education, GPA 3.6

University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana                        Fall 2006

Study abroad in Dance Performance and Education

TRAINING

Pedagogy - 

Pamela Pietro, Edel Quin, Sonia Rafferty, Kit Smith, Sue Akroyd

Choreography - 

Phillys Lamhut, Deborah Jowitt, Rosemary Brandt, Sharon Smith, Gary Lambert, Merian Soto, Phill Grosser, Kun-Yang Lin

Ballet - 

Julia Gleich, James Martin, Cherylyn Lavagnino, Jolinda Menendez, Giada Ferrone, Kip Martin

Contemporary and Modern techniques - 

Rashaun Mitchell, Pamela Pietro, Joy Kellman, Sean Curran, Melanie Clarke, Sonia Rafferty, Emma Redding, Kun-Yang Lin, Merian Soto, Philip Grosser, Rhonda Moore

Acting - 

Kay Cummings

Music - 

William Moulton, Andy Teirstein, Eva Gholson

Dancing with devices - 

Cari Ann Shim Sham*

Intensives and Master classes - 

Doug Varon, David Dorfman, Bill T Jones/Arnie Zane, Krystal Pite, Akram Kahn, Urban Bush Women, Jodi Melnick, Tiffany Mills, Ron K Brown, Limon Company, Greg Dolbashian, Vita Osojnik, Netta Yerushalmy, Liz Lerman, K.J. Holms

Also Trained in Microsoft Office applications and Quickbooks

National Personal Training Certificate through the National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF)

CHOREOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE

“Power Play: Making process in performance;” Brooklyn, NY     2019

15 min trio and community work in progress at Spoke the Hub 

• Performed by Eiren Shuman, David’s Sam, Rohan Bhargava 

• Music spoken by performers and derived from interviews conducted by Eiren Shuman 

“Minyan of One;” Premiered New York, NY                   2016

12 min duet Commissioned by the Manhattan JCC

• Performed by Daniel Abraham and Eiren Shuman

• Music composed and performed by Alison Yun-Fei Jiang

“A Birthday Dance;” Premiered Bronx, NY                   2015

10 min duet Presented by the Bronx Boogie Down Dance Festival

• Performed by Patric Needham and Eiren Shuman, 

• Music by Robert Schumann recorded text by Eiren Shuman

“Blow it Up;” Premiered Philadelphia, PA     2013

10 min solo Presented at Inhale Dance Showcase

• Performed by Eiren Shuman

• Music from live air mattress motor

“Company of Self;” Premiered London, UK     2011

15 min ensemble Presented at The Laban Studios

• Performed by ten student dancers

• Music by Mice Parade

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE

Lauren Beirne Dance Works; Brooklyn, Ny     2018

Guest Artist and Performer

National touring Contemporary Dance Company

6,000 Bobby Pins (ensemble 45min)

Green Space, Queens, NY

Crystal Pite and Kid Pivot; Vancouver BC, Canada                                     2015

Guest Artist and Performer

International touring Contemporary Dance Company

Polaris (ensemble 25min)

Lincoln Center White Light Festival, City Center, New York, NY 

Kun-Yang Lin and Dancers; Philadelphia, PA                   2008 - 2014

Soloist and Core Company Member

International touring Contemporary Dance Company                    

• Select repertory: Be/Longing light and shadow (full length 90min, excerpts 20min)

Mandala Project (solo 5min, excerpts 20min, full length 65min) 

Beyond the Bone (duet 10min, excerpts 25min, evening length 75min) 

Traces of a Brush (solo 8min, full length 25min) Land(duet 12min, excerpt 35min, full length 50min)

• Select venues: Lincoln Center Out Doors New York NY / Tanzmessa International Dance Festival

Dusseldorf Germany / Jogja International Performing Arts Festival Jogjakarta Indonesia / 

Downtown Dance Festival Battery Park NY / The Koresh Dance Festival Philadelphia PA /

The Painted Bride Philadelphia PA / The Kimmal Center Philadelphia PA / The Mandel Theater Philadelphia PA / Cheyney University Cheyney PA / The Egg Albany NY

Group Motion Dance Theater; Philadelphia, PA      2013

Guest Artist and Performer

International touring Contemporary Dance company 

45th Anniversary Gala (ensemble 45min)

Performance Garage, Philadelphia, PA

Meredith Rainy Carbon Dance Theater; Philadelphia, PA         2012-2013

Soloist and Core Company Member

National touring Contemporary Ballet Company                                            

• Select repertory: Green (solo 8min, full length 25min) Through the Wake (full length 45min) 

Caged (solo 10min) Science Performs (full length 65min) This is it/it is this (trio 20min)                 

• Select Venues: The Ware Center University Lancaster PA / 

Christ Church Theater Philadelphia PA / Susan Robert’s Theater Philadelphia PA / 

Earl Mosley’s Institute of the Arts Kent CT

Nora Gibson Performance Projects; Philadelphia, PA         2009-2013

Soloist and Core Company Member

National touring Contemporary Ballet Dance company                         

• Select repertory: Vested Souls (duet 10min, excerpts 20min, full length 75min) 

Etude #1 (duet 13min) Trinity Project (excerpts 15min, full length 65min)                                          

• Select Venues: New Edge Residency Intimate Spaces Theater Philadelphia PA / 

Susan Roberts Theater Philadelphia PA / New Festival The Drake Theater Philadelphia PA / 

Inhale Performance Showcase CHI/mac Art Center Philadelphia PA / 

Dance Exchange Joyce Soho New York NY / The Mandel Theater Philadelphia PA / 

The Painted Bride Philadelphia PA / Dance Space Washington DC

WORK EXPERIENCE

S.S. and Company; Boutique Dance and Fitness Company New York, NY                 2019 - Present 

Owner, Instructor, Personal Trainer

• Established rental relationships with over 5 New York City gyms and studios.

• Maintained an 85% retention rate of active clientele.

• Managed multiple schedules insuring consistent training practices for clientele.

• Planned and executed teaching syllabus for short and long term dance classes ranging from 

beginner to professional level students.

Gourmet to Go; Corporate Food Service Company- New York, NY             2018 - Present

Regional Manager and Administrator 

• Directly oversaw self serve market and cafe in Times Square while also assisting at three 

other locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, such as the Brooklyn Museum. 

• Participated in management team responsible for twenty employees fulfilling 

multiple roles from storage to delivery and sale.

• Hired four new team members placed at two different locations. 

• Coordinated with vendors, plumbers, electricians, software engineers and other 

contractors for routine maintenance and repair of various cafe equipment, vending machines, and products. 

• Submitted weekly and daily reports, ranging from sales activity and inventory delete 

summaries to employee time and attendance tracking. 

• Implemented new cataloging system of over 2000 products for inventory at 4 different sales locations.

• Reduced inventory catalog by 300 entries through correcting faulty data entry.

Equinox Fitness; Corporate Gym and Global Fitness Brand- New York, NY       2017 - 2018

Personal Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor

• Developed personal training business with a 40% conversion rate from lead to active 

client and maintained a 75% retention rate of active clientele. 

• Created unique training programs for specific individuals with varying 

needs and limitations, keeping detailed records of clients’ activity, progress, and goals.

• Approved for 8 different group fitness formats and instructor for classes at over 15 

different Equinox locations.

• Evaluated and assessed new group fitness formats for dissemination to the public.

• Selected to lead employee group fitness classes for sales associates and managers, explaining 

varying class formats to increase gym membership and participation.

Cafe Mocha; Restaurant and Bar- New York, NY         2016 - 2017

Front of House Manager, Bartender, Barista, Server

• Managed front of house staff of 6 employees in busy East Village restaurant 

and bar including coordinating weekly employees’ schedules and assigning shifts and sections. 

• Trained 4 new employees on standard operating procedures and restaurant layout.

• Organized weekly staff meetings to address customer and management concerns, 

developed action plans to address concerns, and followed up on implantation. 

• Fostered new sales techniques by developing trust with customers and understanding 

the profit margin on various menu items. This lead to a 25% increase in productivity.

• Designed and promoted Nightly Specials to increase sales on specialty items, 

as well as manage inventory fluctuations. This contributed to productivity increases 

and reducing inventory costs by 18%.

Center for Arts Education; New York, NY 2014-2017

Teaching Artist within Charter and Public School Programing

• Supervised classical and social dance classes of 15-30 students (ages 8-17) in 5 different schools.

• Organized end of semester performances, open to the public, drawing audiences of 100 to 700 viewers.

• Collaborated with multiple departments to produce mixed medium performances.

• Assembled, purchased, and collected costumes for varying budgetary parameters.

Temple University; Philadelphia, PA       2013-2014

Guest Artist and Substitute Technique Lecturer

• Facilitated substitute Technique classes for advanced to beginner students

• Lead lecture demonstrations on repertory open to the student body

• Oversaw practice auditions for graduating students, giving feedback on performance 

• Created repertory on select students performed for the public

Philly InMovement; Philadelphia, PA   2011-2014

Parental liaison, Event planner, Gymnastics and Dance instructor 

• Taught recreational and competitive gymnastics and Dance classes of 5-35 students, 

ranging from toddlers to teens. 

• Transported students to and from competitions and performances. 

• Assisted parents with class purchases and all other issues pertaining to child’s 

development and education.

• Promoted studio events, pop up programs, and birthday parties.

• Managed studio calendar balancing rentals, classes, and studio events.

“His hip rotation was so wide and elastic for a man, his arms and hands so exact yet fluid, I could barely watch the others.”   Jackson, Merilyn,       Philadelphia Inquirer, 2010

"Jessica Warchal-King, and Eiren Shuman skillfully and meticulously manipulate sequencing and spacing, aligning in rare moments of unison. Gerdes, Ellen,   The Dance Journal, 2010

"Impressive in these dancers was their stamina, their unchanging expressions, their unfalteringly even tone, and their precise replications.” Merritt, Carolyn, Thinking Dance, 2011

“Eiren Shuman exudes the hypnotic focus of a high priest.” Jackson, Merilyn, Broad Street Review, 2014