what we do

I started UWA in 2008 with a vision of collaborating with children to tell stories, guided by our mutual love of animals. Our first show, ‘The Plastic Castle’, was researched, created, written, and designed by seven 2nd graders, and performed for a live audience. This project became our mission, and since, nearly 1,000 young artists have come together to make over 150 original plays, storybooks, films, dance pieces, video art installations and animations; all inspired by animals.

about the director

dana leigh snyder

Dana Leigh Snyder (a.k.a. Ms. Dana) is a teaching artist, award-winning animated filmmaker, and animal lover, located in Brooklyn, NY.

Originally from Sacramento, Dana holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre from The New School (The Actor’s Studio, NYC), and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Theatre from UC Davis. She is the Director of Drama at SLDTA, and holds teaching residencies at Village Community School (Manhattan), Salvatore Larussa Dance Theatre (Middle Village, Queens), Columbia Grammar School and The Spaceworks Williamsburg Library (Brooklyn). Her animated work has won awards at the New York International Women Festival, the Paris International Short Festival, and the American Filmatic Awards.