Today we’d like to introduce you to Heather Shaw

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

Hi! I’m Heather, a filmmaker and choreographer based in the Bay Area, California. I started in the arts as a young child and have always been in love with storytelling and creativity.
I’ve worked as a dancer, actor, curator, choreographer and filmmaker in various capacities. At the moment, I am launching my own production company and working on a new documentary “The Kid in Blue”. My prior documentary, “Telephone”, co-directed by Krishna Washburn was the first screendance documentary created specifically with a visually impaired audience in mind and brings awareness to the important art form of audio description for dance.
I also teach ballet and contemporary classes around the Bay Area, work as a freelance choreographer and am a company dancer with ArcTangent Dance.
My artistic interests include exploring the intersection of movement, sentience, perception, cultural behavior, and aesthetics.
I’m thrilled to be chatting with you today!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

I’ve faced many challenges along the way, but they have all led to growth in one way or another. Here are a few that stand out:
1). Like many dancers, starting intense training at a young age brought many rewards but also fostered perfectionism and self-criticism. As an adult, I’ve had to work hard to adopt a more gentle, self-compassionate approach. It’s an ongoing process, but one that’s essential for career longevity and for finding overall joy in life.
2). Balancing stability with the excitement of new projects has been a constant challenge throughout my career—something many freelance artists can surely relate to. I make a conscious effort to stay grounded in the midst of unpredictability, though it’s not always easy. Staying true to my inner compass and purpose has been crucial in navigating these struggles.
3). I ventured into filmmaking at the height of the pandemic in the summer of 2020. Learning a new craft and navigating an unfamiliar industry during a global crisis was no small challenge. It was also a period of profound personal loss and grief, after losing my mother to a swift three month stage four cancer diagnosis in 2022. We were in post-production for “Telephone” at the time. In many ways, storytelling and exploring a new art form became a refuge, offering a purposeful anchor in the midst of immense hardship.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I’m a multidisciplinary artist based in the Bay Area, CA. Growing up in the coastal town of Santa Cruz, CA, I developed a deep love for nature, exploration, and learning, all of which inspire my creative work. I hold a BA in Philosophy from UC Berkeley and trained intensively in dance and acting from a young age. Currently, I serve as the Artistic Director of Montage Contemporary Company and in 2020, I was honored to be selected as one of five choreographers from across the country for Regional Dance America’s National Choreography Intensive. As a curator, I’ve worked as Performing Arts Manager at the Oshman Family JCC and Co-Curator of TEDxPaloAlto.

My first documentary film, “Telephone”, co-directed with Krishna Washburn, brings awareness to the important artform of audio description for dance and is the first screendance film crafted specifically for visually impaired audiences. “Telephone” has been featured in The New York Times and has screened across the country, including at Lincoln Center, Mill Valley Film Festival, NYU, Carnegie Mellon, San Francisco Dance Film Festival, and New Museum Los Gatos. I am incredibly proud of our team’s dedication and passion in bringing this project to life over several years.

As an artist who believes in creating opportunities to share essential stories, I’m launching a production company and am thrilled to begin work on my next documentary! Stay tuned on my website (linked below) to learn more.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?

I took a major leap in the summer of 2020, choosing to dive full-time into choreography and filmmaking in the middle of a global pandemic. The path since has been anything but linear, but it’s been incredibly rewarding. For me, taking risks as an artist is essential—it pushes boundaries both personally and creatively. My co-director, Krishna Washburn, and I set out to create something entirely unique with our film, “Telephone”, from the creative process down to its core concept (though you’ll have to watch to see exactly what I mean—no spoilers!). While the journey was unpredictable at times, we approached it with a sense of play and a deep commitment to our mission. I believe both are key when taking informed risks.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.heathershaw.us
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathershaw.us/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-shaw-107906160/
• Other: https://www.telephonefilm.com

Image Credits

Action shots and headshot: Lauren Hoskins, courtesy of ArcTangent Dance
Group dance action shot “Good Girls” – choreographed by Heather Shaw for Montage Contemporary Company
Toby MacNutt in Telephone Film
Behind the scenes shot – “The Kid in Blue”