Shaina Dyani Johnson co-founded the Copper Lantern Fire Theater in 2004. As the troupe’s Director, her vision is to further the creation of large-scale theatrical productions that intimately link fire performance with dance, acrobatics, and other artistic media, such as fire sculpture, flame effects, puppetry and art vehicles.
A lifelong performer, Shaina has studied Ballet, Modern, Khatak, Odissi, Yoga and Circus Arts. Despite an early, rather strong aversion to sequins and spandex, she also trained as a competitive ice skater, gaining multiple titles. In 2001, Shaina decided to adapt her dance training to fire performance. Since then, she has performed at private, corporate and festival venues across the country and overseas. She appeared on the cover of InFlame magazine and in the calendar, Burning Self, which featured performers from Cirque du Soleil and other prominent fire troupes. Recently, she performed at the Harbor Nights Festival in Hamilton, Bermuda with Fire Pixie and in the Crucible’s production of Romeo & Juliet: A Fire Ballet in Oakland, CA. Currently, she studies Argentine Tango with Christy Cote in San Francisco, CA. She is also an instructor of Prana Vinyasa Flow Yoga throughout the Bay Area.