Choreographer
As a child of the 80’s, Shay grew up with a passion for The Ninja Turtles and action movies. Naturally, this would bring him to martial arts, theatre and dance at the age of 5. As he became a professional performer and budding choreographer in dance, his value for versatility grew. This connected to his belief that art and creativity are empowered through collaboration and continual rediscovery. He considers himself a very good generalist and is grateful for his experiences in numerous forms of dance, music, theatre and martial arts. He’s continue to invest in his interdisciplinary background through intensive study periods in Brazil, Japan, China and The USA in everything from Shaolin Kung Fu to tap and funk dancing.
Shay’s versatility as an artist has created opportunities to work as a performer, choreographer, movement director and show director for both the screen and the stage. Some of these credits include Ballet BC, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, Ballet Edmonton, Pachimama Theatre, Royal Caribbean, NBC and Apple TV.
In 2014, Shay founded his performing arts company Radical System Art (RSA). RSA creates dance-theatre works that look to captivate audiences through impactful themes, visceral physicality and rich visuals. As a producer, director, choreographer, composer and performer with RSA, Shay has created 7 full-evening productions that have toured all over the world. For Shay, RSA is a cradle for unbridled creativity and exploration.
Shay has lived and worked in Vancouver, BC, Canada, for 20 years. His range of experiences and training enable him to be an asset on any production. He feels immense purpose in creating, and is driven to support other artists and organizations in their creative pursuits. He believes that creativity is humanity’s greatest gift, and that creativity and collaboration are what have enabled us to thrive and prosper.