MISHA SHIELDS

Misha Shields is a theater choreographer working in the New York and Boston areas. She is a Chita Rivera Award Nominee for Best Choreography for her work in the Off-Broadway production of, BAGHDADDY, an Elliot Norton Award winner for her choreography in K-I-S-S-I-N-G, and winner of the BroadwayWorld CNY Award for Best Choreography For A Professional Production for her work in, LOCH NESS.  Recent credit highlights include, LOCH NESS (The Rev Theater), ONCE (Buck's County Playhouse), THE WINTER'S TALE (Hartford Stage), BAGHDADDY (St. Luke's Theater), WONDERLAND (Atlantic Theater Company), LEHMAN TRILOGY, WITCH, I WAS MOST ALIVE WITH YOU, & YERMA (Huntington Theatre). Misha loves storytelling through movement and strives to find moments of comedy, dramatic simplicity, and surprise through her work. The Boston Globe states that Misha's choreography for Company One's production of VIETGONE, is "...one of the funniest fight sequences I’ve ever seen onstage.", and BroadwayWorld calls Misha's work, "beautiful" and "innovative". Whether it is a small play, huge musical, or original dance piece, Misha connects actors to their bodies and helps them tap into their characters through movement and body awareness.

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As well as choreographing theatrical productions and teaching dance, Misha was a lyricist in the BMI Advanced Songwriting Workshop and continues to write her own work. Her music has been presented in shows, concerts, and venues all over Manhattan such as the Laurie Beechman Theater, the Duplex Theatre, and the MAC Award winning cabaret show, Hot Mess In Manhattan, with Cait Doyle.  Misha's lyrics have been featured in the Semi-Annual, BMI Smokers Concert which honors the top songs from the BMI Workshop that year. She was a lyricist for the show, Hey, You Know What Movie Would Make A Good Musical?, which had sold out performances at The Julia Miles Theatre and The Zipper Factory Theatre.  Blame It On The Booze: The Lyrics, Rhymes and Raps of Misha Shields, was presented at the D-Lounge, which was produced by The New York Theater Barn.

   

When she is not choreographing, Misha is busy running her photography business, Pretty Fish Photography.  She specializes in headshots, dance photography, and portrait work. Misha runs back and forth from the dance studio to the photography studio.  

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Misha grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, where she started dancing at the age of three at her mother's dance studio, and she was a level 10 competitive gymnast by the age of 10.  She began teaching dance at the age of 15.  Misha moved to New York after graduating from The Boston Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theater.   Misha studied with The New York Trapeze School and Aerial Arts NYC and is proficient in aerial circus skills, acrobatics, and tumbling. 

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Now, Misha lives in Boston with her wonderful husband, her beautiful daughters, and mischievous dog, Tater.  She is a proud member of SDC.