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You
don't know her yet, but you will eventually. Born Shana Mari Montanez, to
a Puerto Rican father in inner city Chicago and an Austrian, French, Irish
mother, Shana since birth has had a magnetic contact to the stage.
Venturing westward alone, Shana left the comforts of home to pursue her
dreams in the entertainment Mecca of the world, Los Angeles. Mission
accomplished. In just 2 short years Shana already partnered herself with
Jay Records Artist, "Baby Bash", singing hooks featured on his
European album. She appeared on the second season of the WB's, Popstars,
as a finalist in the round of 20 in Los Angeles, after being chosen as 1
of only 2 out of 3,000 initial Chicago contestants. In September of 2004,
Shana opened for a Pre-Latin Grammy Concert hosted by Grammy Award Winning
Recording Artist, Juanes, at the Avalon in Hollywood, where she performed
all original music. But this wasn't her first stint with Grammy caliber
artists; in 2000 she toured as a backup dancer with Avant during a year
long United States circuit. The troop joined forces with Grammy Award
Winning Artist, Mary J. Blige, and Jagged Edge for a little over a month
as part of the sold out and highly anticipated Mary Tour. In addition, she
was part of both the LA and Chicago ensembles of "Latinologues,"
a one of a kind production from the mind of Rick Najera (Mad TV, In Living
Color) most recently on Broadway. Currently, Shana has two national
commercials running in Spanish and English, one a Verizon spot and the
other for Mcdonald's. She is both a SAG and AFTRA member, and was 1 of 17
Latin Thespians to participate in the CBS Latino Showcase in Hollywood out
of 800 total invitees.
As a debutante, she began her formal dance training
at the age of 5. At age 11, she employed her first Talent Agent, after
participating in a Summer Theatre arts camp. Soon after, Shana became a
member of a Nike sponsored Worldwide Hip Hop Dance Company. She attended
performing arts high school in the Lincoln Park area of Chicago and later
completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater at Columbia in
Chicago, all while balancing a full time dance scholarship at Joel Hall
Dance Academy. During this time she landed her first stint on an Equity
stage with the production of "Zoot Suit", at the world famed
Goodman Theater. Having movie placement with 2 of her songs, Shana is also
working with the California Health Council, writing/recording a song to be
used for their "Teen Awareness" campaign. Most recently, Shana
finished shooting Feature film, "Uncharted" in Mexico, playing
lead Laine Wells, a documentarian whose plane crashes in the Gulf of
Mexico with her crew and is the sole survivor. Producer and co star on the
film is ER'S Demetrius Navarro. The film is slated to release, summer
2007. In January 2008 Shana will be doing a 2 week College circuit tour
through California up North, through Oregon, Seattle, and Idaho.
Amazingly, Shana authors all her own lyrics and melodic lines and is
currently in the studio, finishing up her album
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city: Los Angeles
state: CA
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