ARTIST BIOGRAPHY: 

Shae McLean is a professional dancer, choreographer and dance educator in Calgary, Alberta. Her formal dance training began in a community dance studio at 13 years old and since then has taken her across borders, from Canada to the United States, Cuba, Costa Rica, and Colombia. Shae's dance training has been as eclectic as her travels, encompassing styles such as Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Contemporary, Afro-Cuban, and Salsa Caleña. 

After graduating from the dance program at Edge School for Athletes, Shae moved to Vancouver to pursue a career in commercial dance. Shae's journey in Vancouver began with the completion of the Intensive Training Program at Harbour Dance Centre. She then became a co-director of a performing arts collective called Illustrative Society where she taught community classes, led company workshops and created contemporary choreography for various company productions. 

In 2022, Shae completed the Professional Training Program at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. After graduating from the program, Shae took a 3-month trip to Cuba to continue her studies of Cuban Folkloric dance and to immerse herself in the culture in which the dance forms were born out of. She will be returning to Cuba for another 3-month trip in 2024. Alongside performing and choreographing, Shae has also spent her career learning more about the intricacies of teaching dance to all ages. 

Instagram: @shaemclean