Shawn Short (B.F.A., Howard University) is professor of ballet at the Catholic University of America. Mr. Short has performed with K2 Dance, Adrian Bolton Dance, El Tearto de Danza Contemporeanea El Salvador, Bolton/Smith and has been a guest artist with Dance Alloy.

Mr. Short is a Founding Teacher of the Washington Ballet’s outreach campus at THEARC campus in Southeast Washington, DC. He has taught in elementary, secondary education through arts integrating programs and afternoon programs. Shawn is a former Ballet Pedagogy student under the Washington School of Ballet director Kee Juan Han. 

Shawn has choreographed for Dance Institute of Washington and Washington Ballet School @ THEARC. His works have been presented at the Capital Fringe Festival, Harke Theatre, Jack Guidone Theatre, Atlas Theatre Complex, Lang Theatre, Lab II Theatre, Greater Washington Urban League National Conference, Southeastern University, Artists' Bloc 12X6 Series, DC Park and Recreation and commissioned by Catholic University School of Music. Mr. Short was the Program Director and Resident Choreographer for the Kelsey Collie Children's Theatre for six years. He is the Artistic Director of Dissonance Dance Theatre www.ddtdc.com.

Shawn is fiscally sponsored artist with New York Foundation for the Arts and has been funded in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.