Natalya Shoaf
Dancer
Natalya’s romance with the Bay Area began while completing her studies at Alonzo King LINES BFA program at Dominican University. Originally from North Hollywood, Ca — Natalya has always been intrigued by dance and began dancing at her elementary school; joining their drill team as well as choreographing for her school’s talent shows. At 11, she began her formal studies at a local studio.
Natalya is currently the director of the Shawl-Anderson Youth Company and an educator at Oakland School of the Arts. She is an artist in residence at the Athenian School and Cal State East Bay.
She has performed with many Bay Area artists including Robert Moses Kin, dawsondancesf/works, OYSTERKNIFE, Hope Mohr Dance and many more.
Natalya’s choreography has been presented within Alonzo King LINES Summer Program and BFA, Black Choreographers Festival, Oakland Ballet Company, CHOPshop dance (Seattle), and many more local dance festivals.
Natalya sources inspiration from nature, philosophy, innate truth and understanding, intuition, as well as fellow artist. She enjoys teaching how to achieve peace, self-actualization, strength, balance, integrity through movement. She believes that movement is an avenue to deepened awareness. Natalya’s daily practices of cultivating acceptance, forgiveness, and peace within influences all of what she does. Natalya is a student of life. She seeks and welcomes the opportunity to learn and grow.