Eli Shi
Dancer / Choreographer
Eli Shi is a dancer and choreographer from Los Angeles, now based in San Francisco. As a dancer, they have performed works by Alex Ketley, Joanna Haigoode, Alyah Baker, Natasha Adorlee, and The Straw Dogs. Eli's choreographic work has been supported by Stanford IDA, FACT/SF, and ODC.
About me.
I choreograph dances to tell stories, sometimes frequently about family, homeland, or intergenerational relationships. I create performances for immigrants and other common, working class folk — people like my parents — to connect with their deepest emotional selves.
I hold a B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University, with minors in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity and Theater and Performance Studies and am currently pursuing a license in acupuncture and herbal medicine to continue my family's lineage of Chinese medicine practitioners.
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.
Recent Performance work.
PULSE
AB Contemporary Dance
2026
Choreographed by Alyah Baker and performed at Queer Mvmt Fest in San Diego.
Return to Forever
Zaccho Dance Theatre
2026
Choreographed by Joanna Haigoode, Return to Forever features contemporary and aerial dancers, drawning from then DJ, Joanna Haigood’s rediscovered 1975 playlist.
An Approximation of Resilience
The Foundry
2025
Choreographed by Alex Ketley and 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.
