Mary Seghers Shaffo is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer. After graduating with her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from DeSales University in 2015, Mary moved back to her home in New Orleans, Louisiana where she began working as the founding Chair of the Dance Department at Louisiana Academy of Performing Arts. During this time, Mary also freelanced as a choreographer. Her most notable works are in the Amazon film Troop Zero, and Slow Dance With Me, an indie film by Stella Maris Films. 

 

She was one of fourteen dancers chosen to learn and perform the work of Michio Ito at DeSales University. Working side by side with Repertory Dance Theater of Utah, Kyoko Imura-Ryutani, and Kumiko Komine, Mary was able to perform Michio Ito’s “Ave Maria,” which had never been performed in the United States. Mary also performed in Jody Sperling’s “Ghost Revisited” (inspired by Loie Fuller), and other works choreographed by Gregory Dolbashion, Janet Peck, and Lynn Weiner.

 

Mary has choreographed several pieces including a collaborative dance film entitled “La Dolce Città,” “Writer’s Block,” which was performed at a Relay For Life benefit concert, and co-choreographed a piece for the National Water Dance Festival. Mary has also choreographed numerous dances inspired by the city of New Orleans including a piece about her experiences growing up in Louisiana before, during, and after Hurricane Katrina entitled “Louisiana, Ma Maison.”

 

Mary now lives in Tel Aviv, Israel with her husband. They are traveling the world together while studying, learning, and growing in their respective crafts. Mary hopes to use her ever-growing knowledge of other cultures  to inspire and grow her choreographic repertoire. She loves learning new and international dance styles and is educated in ballet, modern, jazz, hip hop, tap, West African dance, swing, salsa, and Gaga.