Cherdonna Shinatra

Jody Kuehner, widely known as Cherdonna Shinatra, earned the prestigious Stranger Genius Award in Performance in 2015, solidifying her reputation as a groundbreaking dance artist, director, and drag queen. Prior to this, Kuehner received the Spotlight Award in 2010 and was recognized as Velocity Dance Center’s Artist in Residence in 2014. As Cherdonna Shinatra, she meticulously developed a distinctive persona that merges abstract movement with contemporary clowning, fearlessly exploring exaggerated femininity and challenging gender perceptions through engaging audience interaction. This unique style has been critically described as a ‘female impersonator impersonator,’ where a female-bodied person presents as a male-bodied person presenting as a female.

Kuehner is also a dedicated educator, imparting her expertise as a teacher of Professional Contemporary Dance at Velocity Dance Center, and has previously instructed at prestigious programs including Strictly Seattle and the Seattle Festival of Dance Improvisation. Her commitment to pushing artistic boundaries and fostering innovative performance earned her additional Fellowship Awards in 2017. Cherdonna Shinatra continues to offer brands a distinctive and thought-provoking artistic collaboration, captivating audiences with her unique blend of contemporary dance, drag, and performance art.