Shanna Pineda

Shanna Pineda, has been a performer since the age of 5 and has trained in different dance styles such as hip-hop, jazz, tap, and ballet. Having trained in other dance styles, Polynesian dancing has always been her first love. Shanna was one of Marilou Ubaldo Lafons first hula students at Westlake School for the Performing Arts (WSPA) and continued to dance and compete with WSPA’s award-winning Polynesian Company class for 10 years. After 10 years, Shanna left WSPA and trained and competed with Manuia Polynesian Revue for one year and learned many different styles in Polynesian dancing. With over 10 years of Polynesian dancing, Shanna left Manuia and decided to join the Spark of Creation family when the studio first opened in 2006 and through the years has developed a love for teaching. While choreographing and teaching Polynesian dance to her students, she is also a student and dancer for Spark of Creation’s Polynesian dance troupe, Te Pura O Te Rahura’a, who recently competed in Tahiti Fete of San Jose 2023 and won numerous awards in the Tamari’i (children’s) and Vahine/Tane (adult) where she co-choreographed with Marilou Lafon. Shanna has totaled over 30 years of experience in Polynesian dance and has won 1st place solo awards in Kiki Raina of Merced, Manahere i Ori Tahiti of Milpitas, Heiva San Diego, Tahiti Fete of San Jose and most notably the Ori Tahiti Nui competitions in Tahiti where she won the title of Vahine World Champion at the 2017 Ori Tahiti Nui World Championship. Currently, Shanna teaches all levels of Polynesian Dance at Spark of Creation Studio, including leading our ‘Ori Tahiti solo teams. Shanna encourages students to trust in the training process, perform to the best of their abilities and most of all have fun.