Eli Shi
Dancer / Choreographer
Eli Shi is a San Francisco-based choreographer and freelance dancer. In the Bay Area, they have performed with Alice Svetic, The Straw Dogs, Alyah Baker, Natasha Adorlee, Joanna Haigoode, and Alex Ketley. Eli's choreographic work has been supported by ODC Pilot, FACT/SF Fieldwork, and Stanford IDA.
About me.
I choreograph dances to tell stories, often about family, homeland, attachment, and grief.
I hold a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University, with minors in Ethnic Studies and Theater and Performance Studies and am currently pursuing a license in acupuncture and herbal medicine to inherit my Grandmother's Chinese herbal medicine practice.
Recent Choreographic work.
Run all the way home
ODC Pilot 75
2025-present
A 60-minute dance-theater work that examines maternal violence and care in immigrant families through an estranged Asian American family’s retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.
Once again, for me
Qualia Contemporary Art Gallery
2026
Presented in conversation with Hung Liu's artwork at Qualia Contemporary Art Gallery, "Once again, for me" is an 8-min reflection on death, loss, and how love is transmitted across generations.
Bruce Lee and Wong Jack Man
Story Fest SF
2026
Choreographed and performed in collaboration with KQED writer Elize Manoukian for Story Fest SF, depicting an infamous fight between Bruce Lee and Wong Jack Man.
Constellations
Stanford University
2024
An evening-length work that explored erasing the distinctions between actors and dancers, Constellations was choreographed to the play by Nick Payne and supported by Stanford's IDA Fellowship.
Man of God
Stanford University
2024
Choreographed to a revenge fantasy scene of the play by Anna Moench for Stanford Asian American Theater Project
Recent Performance work.
NO FEAR
Alice Svetic
2026
Duet and ensemble dancer for Alice Svetic's NO FEAR, choreographed to Big Thief's Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You album, and presented at Berkeley City Ballet.
Chiaroscuro
The Straw Dogs
2026
Solo and ensemble dancer for various choreographers in The Straw Dogs Collective and presented at City Dance Studios. Chiaroscuro explores the places where light and darkness collide.
EleKtric Body
Veronica Blair
2026
Ensemble dancer for Veronica Blair's EleKtric Body for SF Aerial Arts Festival 2026 at Fort Mason Center for the Arts.
PULSE
AB Contemporary Dance
2026
Duet and ensemble dancer for Alyah Baker's PULSE for San Diego's Queer Mvmt Fest.
Return to Forever
Zaccho Dance Theatre
2026
Solo and ensemble dancer for Joanna Haigoode's, work-in-progress of Return to Forever. The show features contemporary and aerial dancers, drawing from then DJ, Joanna Haigood’s rediscovered 1975 playlist.
An Act of Trying
William Fowler
2026
Solo dancer for William B Fowler Jr.'s solo work, commissioned by San Francisco's Black Choreographers Festival (BCF 2026)
PRELUDE
Concept o4
2025
Duet and ensemble dancer, performing excerpts of PIT by Natasha Adorlee, for Sketching I at Shawl-Anderson Dance Center
An Approximation of Resilience
The Foundry
2025
Solo, duet, and ensemble dancer for Alex Ketley's Resilience, a project supported by NEFA's National Dance Project Award. Resilience is an hour long dance-theater installation that paints a portrait of Bill Clark, a 71 year old artist and writer who has spent the past 33 years on death row.
Awards & Funding.
Pilot 76 Artist
ODC
2026
Production Support Grant
FACT/SF
2025
Pilot 75 Artist
ODC
2025
Finalist
U.S. Fulbright Program
2024
IDA Fellow
Stanford IDA
2024
