Our Founder
Shannon Tsai
Shannon is a young leader and performing arts advocate, founding Wonder Youth Foundation to bridge opportunities for youth dancers in their respective fields. Inspired by her own challenges as a dancer, Shannon vows to uplift students partaking in an art that gave her agency and voice, equipping dancers with the tools to cultivate the performing arts within the broader community.
Shannon backs Wonder Youth’s operations, assisting in public fundraising, grant writing, and program planning alongside board members and former president Alexey Kulpin. She has undertook the operations for programs taking place in Los Angeles and Washington D.C. She endorsed Wonder Youth’s partnership with her home campus, San Marino High School, to expand their seasonal dance education programs towards local communities.
Born and raised in California, Shannon began ballet lessons at the age of three. Dance became a keystone part of her identity, receiving ballet training from former ballet artist Alexey Kulpin at the age of 9. With strong ambitions in the art form, she explores herself as a classical dancer and choreographer, performing her first choreographed piece at the finals of the American Ballet Competition in 2021 and 2022. Shannon has since then performed variations from
The Nutcracker,
La Bayadere, Coppelia, Giselle, The Fairy Doll, Flames of Paris,
and
Paquita.
Beyond the dancing sphere, Shannon is also a music and science-driven individual. She is currently a student cellist and education assistant for Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Philharmonic ensemble and a proud member of the San Marino High School's Symphonic Orchestra. Shannon took part as a student musician for LA Opera's "On Gold Mountain" in 2022, and later assumed the role of principal cellist during PYSO's 2024 Italy tour, performing solo parts in their Rovigo and Cremona concerts. She would then become a finalist for PYSO’s Concerto Competition in June of 2025, performing the first movement of Schostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1.
Shannon plans to pursue a double degree in Biochemistry and Dance, an interdisciplinary education that will further her mission in making dance education available and accessible.
Shannon takes interest in illustration and baking, and enjoys practicing musical repertoire with the company of her cats. In her own time, she finds excitement in reading, film, and exploring her music tastes.
Shannon invites you to join her in sharing our visions and mission to make these goals possible.
Board of
Directors
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Advisory Board
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Faculty
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The core faculty and artists at Wonder Youth Foundation not only hold high credentials and extreme talent, but are also passionate educators. Each of them brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with our young participants. Whether pursuing dance in higher education or joining a professional company, their support and dedication are what enables Wonder Youth Foundation to fulfill its mission and values.
Administration and Volunteers
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Administration and volunteers make up the task force for public fundraising and program direction, allowing the foundation to carry out operations effectively.
