Heather Orr - Founder and Director
Founder and Artistic Director
Heather Orr is the Founder and Artistic Director of SoHo Performing Arts, a premier youth musical theatre company in Northern Virginia that she established in 2015. Her vision is to provide exceptional performing arts education through professional-quality productions while inspiring confidence, creativity, discipline, and leadership in every student.
With more than 25 years of experience in musical theatre, dance, directing, choreography, and arts education, Heather brings a unique combination of professional performance experience and educational leadership to SoHo Performing Arts. She earned her degree in Dance from City University of New York and was awarded the prestigious Fannie Weiss Scholarship from the American Dance Guild, where she trained with the internationally acclaimed José Limón Dance Company. She furthered her professional training at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, The William Esper Studio, and Twyla Tharp's Choreography Lab.
Heather performed professionally throughout New York City, working with respected choreographers and dance companies while presenting original choreography at notable festivals and performance venues throughout the United States and Europe. Her career has included performances with Disney, international tours through Germany and the Czech Republic, and performances with various theater companies.
A licensed educator, Heather has developed and implemented theatre, dance, and performing arts programs in public schools, bringing high-quality arts education to students of all ages. Throughout her career, she has created innovative curricula, directed touring performance companies, and provided students with extraordinary opportunities to train with industry professionals, perform in the Disneyland Parks, and appear in NBA halftime performances and numerous competitions and festivals.
Since founding SoHo Performing Arts in 2015, Heather has directed and produced dozens of musical theatre and dance productions and has mentored hundreds of young performers. Under her leadership, SoHo Performing Arts has become known for its commitment to artistic excellence, professional instruction, and a positive, supportive environment where performers of all experience levels are encouraged to grow both on and off the stage.
Heather believes that the performing arts teach much more than acting, singing, and dancing. They cultivate confidence, resilience, creativity, communication, teamwork, and leadership—skills that empower students throughout their lives. Her greatest passion is helping every child discover their unique talents while creating unforgettable theatrical experiences for performers, families, and the community.
Today, Heather continues to lead SoHo Performing Arts with a commitment to excellence and a vision of building a wonderful youth performing arts organizations, where every student is encouraged to dream boldly, work passionately, and shine brightly on stage and beyond.
