Elana Shyong

Hi everyone, I'm Elana! I'm an applied theatre facilitator and creative learning specialist. What do those fancy words mean? In essence, I’m passionate about bringing people together through joyful, creative learning experiences. I specialize in the intersection of creative practices and embodied learning, facilitating interactive spaces where teams, educators, and communities can meet their targets through collaboration and shared purpose.

 

Theatre, as a tool to develop vital 21st-century skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and communication, is immensely powerful. Through this creative journey, I’ve seen children who once lacked confidence blossom into the loudest voices in the room. I’ve worked with teachers who felt stuck in rigid school systems suddenly experience that “lightbulb” moment as they discovered how to empower their students to use their own knowledge as a resource. I’ve had the privilege of watching teams in leading organizations become vulnerable with one another, forging deeper connections and transforming their work environments. These are the moments that make me feel so honored to do what I do, and why I love it so much.

 

For me, theatre is not just about the final performance. What excites me most is the process. The process is filled with small moments of transformation, learning not only about performance but also about ourselves and how we relate to the world around us. 

 

Over the years, I’ve worked as a dramaturg for 10+ years, a trainer for 5+ years, directed 30+ shows, and collaborated with over 1,000 participants around the world. I’m very excited to bring this experience with me to CSI!