Shao Peterson

Shao started her dance training at the Academy of Dance Arts in Red Bank, New Jersey. She progressed through the levels, successfully completing the Royal Academy of Dance exams in which she received Distinction on all exams taken. Shao supplemented her training at summer programs such as Miami City Ballet School and American Ballet Theatre in New York. At 15, she moved to Philadelphia to train at The School of Pennsylvania Ballet. She spent three years at the school, eventually being part of the inaugural year of the trainee program. During her time at PA Ballet, she had opportunities to perform corps de ballet roles with the main company as well as soloist roles in school productions. In 2019, Shao chose to pursue an academic career and graduated cum laude in 3 years from New York University. Upon graduation, Shao decided to return to the arts and began working part time jobs with organizations such as The School of American Ballet and New York City Ballet. Most recently, she has been working full-time in the Human Resources department at The Metropolitan Opera, while continuing to work part-time at SAB and NYCB.