Sheela Das

For almost 20 years, Sheela has directed, produced, and delivered compelling workshops and original stage and video productions for students, community members, and professional venues alike. Her music and compassionate approach gently connects with whole classrooms and models effective arts integration for teachers and administrators.
As a musician and vocalist versed across genres, she uses her experience to write songs, direct musical performance, teach songwriting for puppetry or performance, and front Northeast Ohio bands such as Stomping Jacksons (music of New Orleans), Television Jim (original alt-rock) and SATO (rock). She is also a studio musician for local recording artists.
When not performing music at venues or parades, she works directly with community organizations and schools to develop and deliver high-quality arts programming. There she provides camps, afterschool workshops, and residencies that help people develop creativity and skills in songwriting, art making, playwriting, and puppetry. Innovative, original performances at festivals and schools are a signature of Sheela’s work. Her passion for the arts and audience engagement skills are sought-after.
Sheela composed more than 350 original, interactive songs and 28 Youtube videos to teach the curriculum in grades PreK-12 in subjects ranging from social emotional learning to language arts and science. Additionally, she created 28 public videos of student puppet shows also on Youtube. By engaging with Sheela’s songs, students struggling with basic literacy skills (including English Language Learners), demonstrate enhanced confidence, skills, and academic performance.
Highlights of Sheela’s artistic career include artist-in-residence experiences (2018-2026) with the Ohio Arts Council’s TeachArtsOhio program in Cleveland, Delaware, and Toledo. Bringing students to the stage presenting their original lyrics, plays, instrumental performances, and videos are key outcomes.
Completion of the OAC Creative Aging Initial training through Lifetime Arts in New York enabled her to create several intergenerational programs in puppetry and playwriting and receive a Certificate of Recognition from the City of Bedford, Ohio.

Commissioned work includes:
The Cleveland Museum of Art’s designation as a Featured Artist in June 2026 to create “Shoemaker’s Elves” based on a Grimm Fairy tale. The product was a shoe that weighed 300 pounds and size 411 women’s which was accompanied by a 6-piece band performing her original march, “Elves Independence.”
Kent Stage commission to tell stories and perform music at the Lilac House in Kent for the 2026 Ghost Walk.
Sandy Spinks (Bedford Ward I Councilwoman, President of Bedford Historical Society) to produce and deliver two musical presentations during 2024 and 2025, connecting the history of the town and historic news events to live music with audience participation.
Jane Peterson (Case Western Reserve, International Braids Conference 2025) to produce and present a musical review of rock and roll from the 1960-1990s with SATO rock band.
James Levin (founder of Cleveland Public Theater, One World Festival, and Firefish Festival) to produce and present stage, parade, and artistic works (2016-2018).
Todd Rundgren (Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, recording artist, producer, and musician) to share his Kennedy Center for the Arts residency at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana (2016) where she modeled arts integrated lessons and provided district-wide professional development workshops using her original music.
In 2014, Sheela performed with the touring band Spyder Stompers and Sugar Pie, at the prestigious Brooklyn Folk Festival in New York.

RECENT PROJECTS:
Building a Puppetry Practice: Skills to create large puppets for stage and parades, OAC Artist Opportunity Grant, 2024

Building a Puppetry Practice: Creating live puppet shows, OAC Artist Opportunity Grant, 2025

Learning through the Arts, Natividad Pagan International Newcomers Academy (Cleveland), Students in grades Pk-9 experienced creative songwriting, playwriting, puppetry, and performance during a 120-day TeachArtsOhio residency.

Organizational Involvement

• Ohio Arts Council
• Moonbull Studio
• Puppet Showplace Theater
• Esperanza, Inc.
• FireFish Festival
• Lake Erie Folk Festival
• Cleveland Museum of Art
• Cuyahoga County Public Libraries
• Cleveland Metropolitan School District
• City of Bedford Parks and Recreation
• Bedford Historical Society
• Cleveland Public Theater
• Cleveland Rocks Past, Present and Future

Availability

Upon request