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SHELA XOREGOS Obituary

XOREGOS--Shela. Director, Choreographer, Teacher, Mentor died peacefully in her sleep on July 18, 2024. She loved Greek Classic Theatre, Shakespeare and was Producer/Director of several Harlem Renaissance Premiers. Her choreographic work was seen at Pacific Ballet, Oakland Ballet, and Seattle Chamber Dance. As Founder/Director of Xoregos Performing Company in San Francisco she was an early proponent of the combined Word/Dance/Music presentation. Her company performed at the Smithsonian Institution, MoMa San Francisco, DeYoung Museum, Bronx Museum and free performances in the parks and libraries of New York. The Company is the repository of early American Dances by Charles Weidman, Katy Litz and the Denishawn repertoire. No cause of death was given. Her Dr. said appropriately 'She just ran out of Life.'

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Published by New York Times on Sep. 8, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for SHELA XOREGOS

17 Entries

Sarah

June 27, 2025

Thank you for believing in me.

Jim Lansing

March 9, 2025

Shela, my dear friend, I will miss you dearly. I regret I didn't speak with you one last time before you died. Somehow, it came as a surprise to me. The times we spent together will always remain in my mind. Your humor made life more fun and interesting. You taught me what I know of modern dance.

Erin Jennings

February 2, 2025

What a wonderful tribute and celebration of Shela yesterday! She would have loved it. Here is what I said (posting here for those who didn´t attend) shela
i met Shela around 2001 when i was cast in the Shadowbox production of The Earth and ME - a wonderful show about the Earth and its humanity designed for children that included puppetry and dance. she choreographed and brought to life the story of Earth and how it´s children must take care of it. With a cast of 4 professional dancers and a child dancer, we learned and grew as performers with Shela. She was larger than life when i met her - charismatically and physically - She and director Sandy then jovially and influentially conducting rehearsals. They would order huge sandwiches for lunch! She did trim down and remained large in personality and charisma. She shared this with us and commanded us to be better and larger onstage as well. Cast mate Caron remembers her teaching us to project past the balcony & to keep our bodies safe as well. I did the show for 6 years and continued to dance in some other productions she made - her version of Miss Julie at the Cunnenn Hackett theatre was well received. She was always good at supporting diverse casts, dancers, new theatre, new playwrights and at finding places to be presented. She devoted her life to theatre and was always a dancer at heart. I remember her saying she didn´t marry or want a ring from a suitor because she´d rather use the money for a production - She wanted to make theater come alive for others. I met a few of my best friends doing these productions and we feel gratitude for having met her, having had our lives touched, having the chance to grow, and to dance together meaningfully. Thank you Shela! Rest in Peace

Matthew Wagner

January 25, 2025

Shela was a kind, passionate and knowledgeable director and friend. I was fortunate to be cast by her in Shadow Box Theatre Co. and I performed in numerous other projects including a restaging of her Metamorphosis duet. She was tough in the rehearsal room, there´s no doubt about it, but I definitely I grew under her guidance. When she laughed or smiled, I felt encouraged and seen. I have a couple funny memories that I´m not sure are appropriate to share here but will gladly share them with anyone who cares to know. I think that´s one of the things I loved about her, you never knew when things might get just a little weird. :) I´m grateful to have known her and am so sad to lose her light. Rest peacefully dear Shela, and thank you for sharing so much of your experience and expertise with us.

Sduduzo Ka-Mbili

January 23, 2025

Caron just shared the message of her passing with me. I am from SA, and I had the pleasure of working for her in NYC. I loved her so much. May she rest in eternal peace!

Caron Eule

January 23, 2025

To the moderator: my message got published with a typo of "Caraon" for my name. Can you please change it to "Caron Eule"?

Caraon

January 23, 2025

I am so saddened to have just discovered Shela's passing. I knew her as my Choreographer, my Director, and my Mentor. We first met when she was the choreographer for Shadowbox Theater. In all the years I worked with her, she was a stickler for giving our best work and wouldn't settle for anything less. I learnt so much from her! Two of the most memorable lessons were when she taught the cast how to project to the balcony and also how to save our bodies by not agreeing to do physical labor that was too hard on dancers' bodies. I also performed as a dancer for her in some of her short plays, and I was so impressed how much directing she was doing at her age, during COVID, and beyond. She believed in me as a choreographer, always advising me and spending the time to attend my rehearsals to give notes with an acute eye for cleaning the pieces. When I moved to LA, I struggled with continuing my choreography on a regular basis, and she was always checking on me and encouraging me to continue pursuing new projects. Thinking of her, I am now inspired to choreograph a new piece, so I can tell her (wherever she is), "yes, I am working on a new piece!" Thank you Shela for all your wisdom and inspiration over the years! I will never forget you!

Erin Hunter Jennings

January 23, 2025

I had the pleasure of working with Shela for a few years in NYC - she choreographed, directed and inspired. I miss her and send love and condolences to all friends, and loved ones. I will look for some photos

Erma Colvin

January 17, 2025

Shela and my mother were great friends for over 40 yrs. The love of theater brought them together.

Bob Ost

January 10, 2025

I want everyone to know we are having a Celebration of Shela on Saturday February 1st, 2025, 1pm at Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue, NYC. Of you would like to be a part of this, please email me at [email protected] We welcome photos to remember her by, and performances from shows she directed or choreographed. And heartfelt speeches.

Gene

September 29, 2024

You believed in me. For that I am forever thankful. Miss you. We'll meet for coffee again soon...

Eric Coleman

September 1, 2024

The "S" in Shela stands for "Special", for she was that to me through the years, in the theater and out.
I first met Shela in 1986 when I was producing Readers' Theater. She submitted a play which we presented with her as director. She directed a number of staged readings for us, including Sophocles' "Oedipus the King" in which I performed the title role. Without fail, she was the epitome of patience and professionalism.
I supported her thereafter in her many very varied projects through the years, including performing in a reading she directed at the Smithsonian.
She likewise was nearly always there with advice and encouragement for my work.
I last saw her perhaps a year ago, when she invited me to her home for an small but exquisite dinner party. I attempted to return the favor when I invited her a number of weeks ago to a show I was directing and then to dinner. Alas, she had to decline because she was under the weather. But Shela, the invitation still stands in my heart, for that is where you'll remain.
So in addition to "Special", we might add "Rare"~~ for you were indeed a Gem with a most unique shine.
"May God Bless"
Eric Coleman

Bonita Labossiere

August 31, 2024

My darling Shela...we met in 1992 and have shared your gifts and brilliance inside of the world of Performance Art ever since. I cannot believe that your life has run out...as I thought that your amazing creative energy would go on forever filling the stages with laughter...grace...powerful drama... dance....and song! Everything that was you ! I miss you my friend.

Teri Loveland

August 31, 2024

I moved to SF when I turned 18, and found an ad for dancers. It was Shela seeking performers for Babes in Toyland. I auditioned, was accepted and that was the beginning of my dancing career in SF. I joined her company/picture of the troupe is attached*, took classes and rehearsed for the show. I was young/fancy-free, it was the 60s and I lived in SF: it was one of the best times of my life. We performed Babes in Toyland at the Women´s City Club on Post Street in 1964.
I´d never met anyone as self-possessed and dynamic as Shela - she was my hero. I wanted to be her. She was inspiring, and made us rehearse until we got it right. She was focused, relentless and dedicated to excellence. Her drumming during classes was exceptional and spurred us on. She told us if we did this exercise we´d never have back problems: lean over with a straight back at a 90 degree angle to your hips/legs, then round down to touch the floor, then lift up to a 90 degree straight back, and repeat. I still do this exercise.
We worked out in the Attic Studio which was over The Matrix on Fillmore Street. The Matrix was a nightclub known as the "San Francisco sound". The Attic Studio was large with wooden floors, and a wall of windows that flooded the area with light.
One of Shela´s heroes was Isadora Duncan. I still have My Life by Isadora Duncan - a book she gave me inscribed "to Teri - may this book inspire you, as it has me, to dance." I will treasure it forever.
Life happens, and I lost touch. In the not-so-distant-past I was thrilled to find Shela was still active in theater in NYC. Shela, Marleene and I re-connected - a joyous moment.
Shela was about to direct Robin Hood at an outdoor theatre in New Hamphire before she ran out of life. She wasn´t thrilled about it, saying "Directing Robin Hood is like hitching a racehorse to a plough." But it was work, and she hadn´t had much post-Covid. This almost event reminded me that in the 60s she danced while Duke Ellington played music at the Mt. Tamalpias outdoor amphitheater in Marin County, CA. It was awesome.
NYC has lost a dynamic, prolific director whose works speak to social issues. I loved that she did free performances at NYC libraries making culture available to all. She will be missed.
My hat´s off to a life well lived.
Rest in Peace Shela.

*Shela´s in white, I´m behind Shela to her left, and Marleene´s behind me to my right.

Teri Loveland

August 31, 2024

Jim Keeler

Planted Trees

Marleene West

August 30, 2024

I miss Shela....we were dear friends for 62 years. We danced and laughed
together....had wonderful memories...We were in the same dance co. in San Francisco....I last saw her for a week in 2017 with my husband....my dear Shela....rest in peace.... Marleene West.

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