SHARLEE PEAY

Sharlee is a performer, choreographer, and educator who began her dance training in classical ballet in SLC, Utah. She attended Brigham Young University on full tuition scholarship for both dance and academics and graduated magna cum laude with a BA in dance performance. While pursuing her college degree, Peay performed with ballet and contemporary companies, touring performances in Idaho, Colorado, India, and China. She also received several awards including Rookie of the Year, Outstanding Female Performer, and All-Around Excellence in Performance, Academics, Leadership and Choreography.

Sharlee began her professional career with SALT Contemporary Dance. As a performer she has studied with and performed works by Peter Chu (“Paper Cuts”, chuthis), Jermaine Spivey (Kidd Pivot), the legendary Donald McKayle, Alex Ketley (The Foundry), Loni Landon, Brendan Duggan, Joni McDonald, Ching Ching Wong, and internationally renowned choreographer, Ihsan Rustem amongst others. Peay also trained with Summer Lee Rhatigan at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance where she studied Ohad Naharin’s “gaga” technique and repertoire with Bobbi Jene Smith and Tom Weinberger (Batsheva). Sharlee has set work in ballet and contemporary for multiple schools. She was recently honored to be a featured choreographer for SALT Contemporary Dance “LINK” Festival in 2019. Sharlee co-founded Oquirrh West Project where she danced with, choreographed for, and acted as Associate Artistic Director for two seasons. As the current Artistic Director and resident choreographer for the project, she looks forward to continuing her research and exploration as an artist.