The First Two Years: A TDM Career Chat About Life as an Early Career Artist

Interested in learning about what it’s like to start building a career as an artist post-grad? Bring your questions and chat with TDM alumni working in theater and dance about navigating the first few years of life as an artist! Specific topics for this interactive panel will include what steps the panelists took to begin building their career, how they made connections that felt useful to their work, and what advice they have for finding balance in post-Harvard life.

Guests for this Career Chat include Laura Coe ’23, Elle Shaheen ’21, and Eliya Smith ’20.

This event is open to Harvard students only.

For any accessibility needs, please share with your RSVP or contact Theater, Dance & Media at tdm[at]fas.harvard.edu.

ABOUT THE PANELISTS

Laura Coe (Chickasaw) is a dancer and choreographer whose work revolves around language, centering partnering, place, and the conceptual power of movement world views. She represents Double Yolk Collective and Harvard Breakers Crew and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University.

As an undergrad at Harvard College, Elle Shaheen (TDM ’21) was one of the first six women cast in the Hasty Pudding Theatricals. In 2014, Elle founded Type E Productions LLC, which has produced a Broadway play, award-winning shorts, musicals, and films. Select Theater Credits: Cabaret, The Diary of Anne Frank (Global Achievement Award) Film Credits: Live Catch (Best Actor NH Performance), Trans: Los Angeles, Spirited, Salvation, TV Credits: Kevin Can F Himself. As a type 1 diabetic since the age of 8, Elle is an advocate for diabetes research and technology as we move closer to a cure!  

Eliya Smith is a writer from Ohio. Off-Broadway: Grief Camp at the Atlantic Theater Company. Other productions: Ice Factory Festival, HERE Arts Center, the American Repertory Theater, Tank Core Season, ISLE Theater Company. Awards/Support: Venturous Grant, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, and the Phyllis Anderson Foundation. MFA Candidate UT Austin.