resume

Shartoya
Jn. Baptiste

Scenic Designer, Choreographer and Dancer

biography

Born and raised on the picturesque island of Saint Lucia, Shartoya’s spark for the performing arts ignited from the age of seven. She has represented Saint Lucia at numerous regional and international Cultural Dance Exchanges and has performed and choreographed for national events, the Caribbean Cricket Premier League cheerleaders, and multiple Soca artists. Her dance styles extend from contemporary, and modern to African, Caribbean dance, and Traditional Saint Lucian folk.

When Shartoya is not performing, she can be found in the theatre or the design studio. Shartoya’s interest in design stemmed from her mother’s career in interior and commercial design, and it peaked during her undergrad education at Towson University. Currently, Shartoya is an MFA Scenic Design candidate at the University of Maryland. Local credits include P.Nokio (Imagination Stage, Helen Hayes Nominated), Out of the Vineyard (Joe’s Movement Emporium, World Premiere), and Is God Is (Constellation Theatre*). University credits include By The Way, Meet Vera StarkThe Book Club Play, Fall Dance Thesis, Spring Dance Thesis (University of Maryland), and Sense and Sensibility (American University). Assistant Scenic Design credits include Beastgirl (The Kennedy Center) and Choreographer credits include Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds (The Hangar Theatre).

In her spare time, she enjoys philanthropy, teaching, and creating dance concept videos that merge the worlds of choreography and scenic design. Shartoya’s classes and concepts can be found on her YouTube channel – shr758. One of her biggest accomplishments to date is “The SHR Experience” – a one-day dance workshop where international choreographers visit Saint Lucia to teach various dance styles, and in turn, learn a Saint Lucian cultural dance. The proceeds from The SHR Experience are injected into the Saint Lucian dance community by purchasing equipment for dancers and dance studios that lack the necessities for training.

resume

Education

University of Maryland '24

Scenic Design (MFA)

Towson University '20

Theatre Design and Production (BSc)
Summa Cum Laude

Sir Arthur Lewis Community College '14

Hospitality Studies (AS)

skills

Vectorworks
Photoshop
Laser Cutter
Scale Model Building
Hand Rendering

SCENIC DESIGN

Work Experience
* – upcoming work

Is God Is*

Spring Dance Thesis*

Out of the Vineyard

Mi Vida, In Rhythm

El Bodegón De La Bruja

The Book Club Play

Sense and Sensibility

By The Way, Meet Vera Stark

Beastgirl

P.Nokio (Helen Hayes Nominated)

Antigone

Sweat

Hamlet

Scenic Design

Scenic Design

Scenic Design

Scenic Design

Scenic Design

Scenic Design

Scenic Design

Scenic Design

SD Assistant

Scenic Design

Scenic Design

Scenic Design

Scenic Design

Constellation Theatre

University of Maryland

Joe’s Movement Emporium

University of Maryland

University of Maryland

University of Maryland

American University 

University of Maryland

The Kennedy Center

Imagination Stage

Towson University

Towson University

Towson University

KenYatta Rogers

Mary Kate Ford & Rebecca Steinberg

Tony Thomas

Gerson Lanza

Javi Padilla

Fatima Quander

Karl Kippola

Scot Reese & Alvin Mayes

Misha Kachman

Tony Thomas

Peter Wray

Peter Wray

David White

2024

2024

2023

2023

2023

2023

2022

2022

2022

2022

2020

2020

2019

     

choreography and dance

Choreography 

She Djab – The National Cultural Centre, Saint Lucia – Kentillia Louis – 2023

Three Little Birds – Hangar Theatre – Logan Schulman – 2022

Ezra D’Fun Machine – Soca Monarch – 2019, 2022, 2023

Guiness Amplify show in 2019; choreography for Nessa Preppy and Cooyah 

U4ria Soca Concert 2016-2023; choreography for multiple artist such as Kes, Lyrikal, Rupee and Teddyson John 

 

Music Videos 

Saveion feat. Serani, Nicky B & Qraig  -“Perfect Body”  

Arthur Allain – Ride Jocky (Official Video)  

Arthur EvaLucian – Who I am” #West Indian  

 

Dance Productions 

 “La Luna” by The Silver Shadow Performing Arts Academy in 2017  

“Poetry in Motion” by The Silver Shadow Performing Arts Academy in 2015  

“Dance Mirage” by The Silver Shadow Performing Arts Academy in 2012 

“Break Out” by The Silver Shadow Performing Arts Academy in 2009 

 

Pageantry 

Talent Coordinator for Miss Queen of Gros Islet contestant in 2019

National Carnival Queen Pageant contestant; 1st Runner Up in 2016 

Miss Independence Pageant contestant; 2nd Runner Up in 2015 

Youth Development 

The SHR Experience Cultural Dance Exchange Workshop 2019-2020 

SHR School Tour in 2019 

Cheerleading Judge at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College in 2017 

“Dance On D’ Bloc” Community Dance Activity in 2017  

Dance Judge at Youth Fest in 2014 

 

Travel 

Prague Quadrennial 2023 

RAW Artists – Baltimore Showcase 2017 

CARIFESTA Haiti XII 2015 

Martinique Carnival 2014 

Rhythm and Motion Dance Festival in Trinidad and Tobago 2013 

Cultural Dance Exposé in Barbados 2013 

Guadeloupe Carnival 2013  

 

Other Performances 

Caribbean Cricket Premier League Cheerleader 2014-2016 

St. Lucia National Youth Awards 2013 and 2020 

St. Lucia Independence Festival  

St. Lucia National Arts Festival  

St. Lucia Festival of Lights 

Weekly performances at multiple Saint Lucian hotels 

REFERENCES

Barry George

Misha Kachman


contact shr