Dana Genshaft was born in Moscow and trained at the Kirov Academy of Ballet, School of American Ballet, and Paris Opera Ballet School prior to becoming an apprentice with SF Ballet in 2000. She joined the Company as a corps de ballet  member the following year and was promoted to soloist in 2008. Genshaft has performed lead roles in Ashton’s Monotones I; Elo’s Double Evil; McGregor’s Eden/Eden; Morris’ Pacific, Maelstrom, and A Garden; Tomasson’s 7 for Eight; Welch’s Naked; Wheeldon’s Carousel (A Dance) © and Within the Golden Hour ©; as well as a singing role as Rosalia in Robbins’ West Side Story Suite. In addition, she originated roles in Caniparoli’s Ibsen’s House and Morris’ Joyride. After retiring from SF Ballet in 2015, Genshaft joined the faculty of SF Ballet School. She has been the Artistic Director of SFDanceworks since 2021.