A Choreographic Journey is a story of survival. A story of love breathed in the form of jazz dance told through vignettes about Shimon's life and artistic practice.

 Shimon has lived a rich artistic life which has spanned some of the most monumental events of the past century, from the Nazi occupation of Braun’s native Poland, the Israeli Six-Day War, to the avant-garde dance scene of 1960s New York City.

He studied with Martha Graham, Luigi, Matt Maddox, Jack Cole, and most of the other great choreographers of his generation before having an epiphany one night while watching a dancer in an nightclub. Shimon felt as if he saw her life story in front of him. The radical expressiveness she exhibited through her dance, completely absent of inhibition, moved him deeply. Although he was able to discern she had never taken a dance class in her life, the profound vulnerability and direct nature of her movement triggered a lifelong search for Shimon. He sought to open similar emotional channels in trained and untrained dancers alike, creating a cohesion of diverse artistic abilities and sensibilities in the process.

Inspired, he conceived a new kind of choreography. 

In the 1970s and '80s, Shimon Braun's company, Waves, became a cultural powerhouse, captivating electrifying performances. Waves consistently sold out theaters, with standing-room-only crowds in cities like Philadelphia, London, New York, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam. The company's dynamic energy often inspired audiences to leap out of their seats and dance in the aisles—an extreme manifestation of Shimon's drive to reach and connect with his audience on a deeply personal level.

Waves became an integral part of Philadelphia's cultural landscape, earning the distinction of being named the "Best Cultural Addition to the City." In recognition of its groundbreaking influence, The New York Times also hailed Waves as "A Phenomenon."

In his memoir, Shimon reflects on the heart of his work, “I was always looking for unity among my dancers and tried to harmonize diversity. Unite people, unite styles, find some shared experience, and use art as a means to a unification of contrasts… and do all that with love.” His philosophy of uniting diverse cultures, styles, and experiences through movement mirrors his journey of resilience and personal transformation.

At 86, Shimon’s passion and dedication to his art are as vibrant as ever. He is eager to share his extraordinary journey with the world, and this memoir is the culmination of his life's work.