Artistic Directors
Shara Weaver
Shara is co-founder and co-artistic/co-executive director of Propeller Dance. She received her DanceAbility Teacher Training Certificate in Eugene, Oregon from Alito Alessi in 2005. A dancer from a young age, Shara has extensive experience teaching and performing improvisational and West African dance. She has performed in Canada Dance Festivals, Square Zero Independent Dance Festivals, NAC Fourth Stage, Studio 303, Cube Gallery and various clubs and arts venues in and around Ottawa. She has been a MASC artist for 7 years. Shara Weaver co-founded and directed the DanceAbility Program and has been an Outreach Administrator for The School of Dance and was a consultant for Human Resources Development Canada for five years. She has a co-operative BA psychology degree from the University of Guelph.
Renata Soutter
Renata is co-founder and co-artistic/executive director of Propeller Dance. She graduated in 2000 with a BFA in Contemporary Dance from Concordia University. She has choreographed and performed dance works in the Canada Dance Festival, Square Zero Independent Dance Festivals, fFIDA, Montreal Fringe Festival, Studio 303, Dance Network, Bread and Puppet Theatre. She holds a certificate in expressive arts therapy from Algonquin College and a BA in comparative development from Trent University. Prior to Propeller Dance, she worked as co-director of the DanceAbility Performing Group at The School of Dance. Along with her work as a dance artist, Renata is also an experienced arts administrator and educator, working for the National Arts Centre's as Dance Outreach Coordinator, and previously as Communications Director at MASC.
