Lua Shayenne

Biography 

LUA CASU | LUA SHAYENNE (Artist Name) 

A finalist of the 2024 Toronto Arts Foundation Muriel Sherrin Award and nominee of the 2025 Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prizes, Lua Shayenne, a dynamic creator, intertwines contemporary narratives through dance, song, and storytelling. Inspired by her African heritage and the Baha'i Faith, her art aims to ignite hearts and stirs consciences, fostering dialogue and advocacy for ecological stewardship, social equity, and spiritual growth.

Lua is the creator and performer of the dance theatre children’s tale Yassama and The Beaded Calabash, which has been touring since 2023. In May and June 2024, the show was featured at the Junior Festival at Harbourfront in Toronto, the Vancouver Children’s Festival, the Children's Festival of Saskatchewan, and in schools across York Region, including Aurora, Keswick, and Black River. For the 2024-25 season, Lua will present Yassama at MIFO in Orléans and Agora des Arts in Rouyn-Noranda, Québec.

Lua is the artistic director and choreographer of Lua Shayenne Dance Company (LSDC). Through LSDC, Lua boldly envisioned and launched YENSA Festival in 2022, a biennial festival that highlights the incredible multiplicity of black women dance practitioners and nurtures an environment where they can have substantive conversations, take risks and be given due recognitions.

Lua’s latest performing highlights include Water Spirit with LSDC, HOLOSCENES tours in the US, UK, Abu Dhabi & Australia, Été au Théâtre in Italy, Francofest, Fall for Dance North, Luminato, Dusk Dances, d:mic, Vox Théâtre, Sharing The Stage, and more.

Lua is currently working on a new dance film project titled WAVES and a new work for the stage slated to premiere in 2025.

Lua teaches at Toronto Metropolitan University’s dance program and brings African dance, music, storytelling and culture to grassroots organizations and schools all over Canada.