Shir is a movement artist who creates pieces that combine theater, dance, and circus. She exalts in walking the line between comedy and tragedy, and creating absurd imagery, using clown, aerial rope, and tightwire. She trained in the New England Center for Circus Arts’ ProTrack Program (2020-2022), where she specialized in aerial rope and tightwire, and Esh Circus Arts’ Professional Prep. Program (2018-2020). She has additionally trained with Shannan Calcutt (clown), Molly Graves (aerial rope), Ariele Ebacher (tightwire), Joel Malkoff (tightwire), and Veera Kaijanen (tightwire).

She premiered her 75 minute one-woman circus show about motherhood, MOM*, in Somerville, MA in September 2024. It has toured in Philadelphia, PA (Philly Fringe 2024), Camden, NJ (Philadelphia Contemporary Circus Festival 2025), NYC, Chicago, and Connecticut, as well as returned to Somerville with a cohort of visual artists creating an on-site art gallery about motherhood. Her work with MOM* will be featured in Rivka Eckert’s upcoming book about mother/artist performance practices and inclusivity.

She was the recipient of the Massachusetts Creative Individuals Grant in 2023, a Somerville Local Cultural Council Grant in 2024 and 2025, and the Massachusetts Creative Experiences Grant in 2025.

Before becoming a circus performer, Shir worked as a robotics engineer for companies such as Amazon Robotics and Berkshire Grey. She brings her technical acumen and ingenuity to circus, bringing the ideas in her head to life, and often asking the question “what if?”.

Shir also performs as a hospital clown (‘Dr. Bird Brain’) with the Laughter League, and is an avid reader.