Janis Brenner is an acclaimed, multi-award-winning dancer/choreographer/singer/educator and is Artistic Director of Janis Brenner & Dancers in NYC. Known for her “meticulous artistry” (The Village Voice), she has toured in 36 countries and is recognized as a “singular performer” (Eye on Dance) with a multifaceted artistic range. Her honors/grants include 2018 “Best Production” Award for Inheritance: A Litany at the United Solo Theatre Festival Off-Broadway as well as the 2019 Critic’s Choice Award from All About SOLO, 2017 “Best Choreography” Award for Eva Petric’s eden, transplanted at United Solo Theatre Festival, NY Dance & Performance Award (group "Bessie") for her performance in Meredith Monk’s The Politics of Quiet, Lester Horton Award for Choreography in L.A., Copperfoot Award for Lost, Found, Lost at Wayne State U. in Detroit, “Bessie” nomination for Solo For Janis by Richard Siegal, NY Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, The Fund for US Artists at International Festivals, the U.S. State Department, Asian Cultural Council, The Trust for Mutual Understanding, O'Donnell Green Music & Dance Foundation (2 grant awards), Harkness Foundation for Dance (10 grants) UNESCO, US Embassies in Moscow, Bosnia, Jakarta, and Dakar, and a commission for the interdisciplinary work, The Memory Project from the Whitney Museum of American Art. Her work has been commissioned/restaged on more than 50 companies and colleges worldwide and she performed with Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble from 1990 to 2005, 2014 (recording on ECM Records). She is a sought-after master teacher conducting workshops in improvisation, composition, repertory, and vocal work which, over the course of decades, created long-term relationships with artists and institutions throughout Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, Russia, Senegal, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Basel, Stockholm, Florida, and S. California.

Ms. Brenner was with the Murray Louis Dance Company from 1977to 1984, working with legendary artists such as Rudolf Nureyev, Placido Domingo, Dave Brubeck Quartet, Joseph Papp/The Public Theater, Bat Sheva Dance Company, and Alwin Nikolais. Ms. Brenner restaged Murray Louis’ work in the US and abroad, including at Dallas Ballet, Balettakademien-Stockhom, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and The Juilliard School. She and composer/vocalist Theo Bleckmann recorded their acclaimed work Mars Cantata available through Earrelevant Music. She was co-choreographer for juggler/dancer/physicist Michael Moschen (1988-92: BAM's Next Wave Festival, US tours and PBS' Great Performances), and a soloist with Annabelle Gamson's company of esteemed female artists (1984-87) performing historic repertory of Mary Wigman and others.

Ms. Brenner was on the faculty at The Juilliard School from 2009 to 2021, mentoring the Choreographers and Composers collaborations and teaching Improvisation, mainly under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes. She was on the Board of The Gender Project in NY, which sought to raise awareness of gender bias and empower women in dance. Ms. Brenner received her MFA from Hollins University/ADF in 2009, and served as Director of Choreography for Regional Dance America's Choreography Summer Intensive from 2010 to 2011 and 2017 to 2018. She had her debut visual art exhibit at the Susan Eley/Fine Art gallery in Manhattan in March, 2022, presenting mixed media collage works based on personal narratives.