B.F.A. in Theatre - Acting (University of British Columbia)​
Royal Conservatory of Music: ARCT in Voice Performance
Royal Conservatory of Music: ARCT Piano, Violin 8 - In Progress

Ava Maria Safai is a multi-disciplinary Middle Eastern artist who specializes in acting, music, writing and directing. She is a Dean’s List Graduate from UBC’s BFA in Acting Program and is actively pursuing her ARCT in Piano, Voice and Violin with the Royal Conservatory of Music. Past roles for Ava Maria have included: Regan (King Lear), Maddie Forbes (I Killed Maddie Forbes), VERA (INHUMAN/E), Iris (The New Margo), Alicia (Barefoot in Nightgown by Candlelight) and most recently, Female Drummer (Google TV).

Following the placement of her first hit single “Finding Hope” on Lifetime’s Dance Moms, Ava Maria released three albums, co-wrote music with her father for GrandMuse Pictures Ltd.'s Unmasked (which received its debut at the Cannes Film Festival) and, with support of the Canada Council for the Arts, co-wrote and produced the soundtrack for full-length musical “The Girl Next Door.” She has garnered over one million views on YouTube, been featured in Maclean’s magazine, and was selected as The North Shore News’ “Favourite Local Celebrity" (2018). Ava Maria is also a recipient of numerous awards, including the Gold Medal for Music Theatre at the Vancouver Kiwanis Festival Provincial Excellence Class, a Don S. Williams Grant, the Evelyn Jasiulko Harden Scholarship in Theatre, the Rise Up Award and the Katie Drysdale Music Theatre Scholarship.

In 2020, Ava Maria founded her own non-profit organization The Harlequin Theatre Society, which to date has produced one original roving piece, an immersive feature film (later adapted into a sold-out theatrical production for the Stand Festival) and I Killed Maddie Forbes, a seven-episode limited series in which she not only took on the lead role, but that of director, executive producer and head writer as well.

Next, Ava Maria will be directing William Shakespeare's Hamlet at Presentation House Theatre and creating another original feature film in 2023 as part of The Harlequin Incubator program. Ava Maria has over a decade of teaching experience and her students frequently score highly in their RCM Examinations, as well as place in the top three at music and drama festivals in BC. She is excited about teaching students who love the arts as much as she does.

Ava is fluent in English, French and Farsi, which enables her to connect with students from various backgrounds. She is passionate about providing a well-rounded arts education and aims to help all of her students reach their full potential as performers.
Learn more about Ava Maria by visiting her website: avamariasafai.com

Ava is currently teaching on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.