第二十屆國家文藝獎舞蹈類得主，「世紀當代舞團」創辦人、藝術總監及主要編舞家，現任國立臺灣藝術大學專任講師。被藝文圈友人譽為「用毛細孔呼吸的編舞家」，以魔幻寫實影像和後現代主義拼貼的三度空間概念結合，形塑如夢似幻卻極具感知真實的舞作，為現今國內少數以肢體詮釋戲劇架構的佼佼者之一。1991年畢業於紐約大學舞蹈碩士，主修表演及編導，留美期間獲美國著名舞團莫斯．康寧漢（Merce Cunningham）學校的獎學金以及美國亞洲文化基金會的獎助學金，美國舞蹈《態度》（Attitude）雜誌曾評論其「具許多可學習之處，為不可多得的舞者」。

 Winner of 20th National of Award Arts,Graduated from New York University as a Master majoring in performing arts and choreography, Shu-Fen Yao, is now teaching in National Taiwan University of Arts mainly focusing on improvisation, composition and contemporary technique. She is now also the leader and main choreographer of Century Contemporary Dance Company. During her time of studying in the USA she got the scholarships from Merce Cunningham School and American Asian Cultural Foundation. The American dance magazine Attitude, had commented：“ from her there are many things to learn, and she is a precious dance performer”. In 1999, she was selected by the Ministry of Education to go to Paris Artist Village for one year. Her style changes with the time and her main concern is to reflect our time and the relationship between humanity and the environment. Shu-fen Yao tends to take the details of life as her materials. Her works often use fantastic realism style combined with 3 dimensional collages. Her works have a dreamy like feeling that is unique and singular.