Theatre Arts Major

Shawn Short

Shawn Short

Assistant Professor
Areas of Specialization - Dance and Movement Studies 

Shawn Short

Shawn Short is a distinguished dance educator, arts administrator, and choreographer with over 20 years of experience in performing arts education and leadership. As a "Modern Man 100 List of Extraordinary Men" awardee by Black Enterprise Magazine, Short has established himself as a change agent developing communities through creative innovation. A native of Washington, D.C., Short represents one of the last African American dance artists to study with notable director Mr. Mike Malone (Fame - TV Show; Founding Director of Howard University's Musical Theatre Dept) and legendary D.C. dancers including Tyrone Murray, Assane Konte, and Adrian Bolton.

Short holds a BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Theatre Management from Howard University, an MFA in Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Business Management from the University of Liverpool. He has further enhanced his expertise with certifications in Product Management from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management and Digital Marketing from Columbia Business School. Short Founded and directs Dissonance Dance Theatre (DDT), the only nationally-recognized Black-managed contemporary ballet company between NYC and Atlanta.