Shelby Russ was born and raised in Tampa, FL, where she began her early dance training at a local studio. At 15, she enrolled at Howard W. Blake High School, where she deepened her training in ballet, modern, and choreography. During her time there, she had the opportunity to perform in works by Jennifer Archibald, Jon Ole Olstad, Duncan Cooper, and Bliss Kohlmyer.She went on to earn her BFA in Dance from the University of South Florida, where she performed in works by Stephanie Martinez, Joshua Peugh, Michael Foley, Jeanne Travers, and Paula Nunez.

Upon graduating in 2023, her self-choreographed solo Woman’s Search was selected for the American College Dance Association (ACDA) Regional Gala in Gainesville, GA, and later for the National Gala in Long Beach, CA. Her solo was one of only five selected to perform at the 2023 Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

Shelby has also trained at a variety of summer intensives. While at Blake High, she participated in their annual Discovery Project with Alonzo King LINES Ballet and was awarded a full scholarship to their 2017 Summer Program. While at USF, she attended the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Summer Program in 2022, where she studied repertoire by Ohad Naharin, Lar Lubovitch, Azure Barton, Jermaine Spivey, Nacho Duato, Amy Hall, and Kyle Abraham.

From 2023 to 2025, Shelby has been a company member and choreographer with Tampa City Ballet. She performed as a soloist in If I Cry, a work inspired by the life and mind of Frida Kahlo. In fall 2024, she premiered her own choreography as part of the company’s Era festival. She also danced as a soloist in their production of Carmen, where she additionally served as co-choreographer and rehearsal director assistant. Most recently, she performed as a soloist in La Séptima, featured at TCB’s inaugural fundraising gala.