Biography
KATHERINE J. SMITH: A 1979 graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts, earned her B.F.A.in modern dance from the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts (University of the Arts). She has worked with renowned choreographers such as James Truitte, Talley Beatty, Donald McKayle, Eleo Pomare, Ulysseus Dove, Milton Myers, Kevin “Iega” Jeff , Donald Byrd, Doug Varone, Faye Snow and more. Her professional concert experiences include Dayton Contemporary, Rod Rodgers, Forces of Nature, Gallman’s Newark, New World and D.C. Contemporary Dance Companies. Kathy has toured nationally and internationally in George Faison’s “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf”; “The Wiz”, and “Purlie”; Debbie Allen’s “Souls Possessed”, Mike Malone’s “Black Nativity” and “Spirit”, and Studio Theater’s Helen Hayes Award, “Bessie’s Blues” along with cultural exchange programs in China and Austria. Kathy was the first dancer (in a non-speaking role) to receive The O’Keefer Award for best female performer in a musical production. Katherine has been recognized as a performer and an instructor for her contributions towards the “Excellence of Youth in the Arts” by The Society Inc., Washington DC Chapter and receiving an Honors Award by the International Association of Blacks in Dance and currently is a board member of this prestigious association. Ms. Smith has extended her professional dance training in the direction of mentor, instructor, and choreographer in association with established community (including outreach programs), professional performing companies and institutions. Recently, Ms. Smith choreographed a work on Philadanco which premiered for their Kimmel Season in December 2021and also serves on and off since 2013 as an instructor for Danco’s Summer Programming. Also, Ms. Smith recently had the opportunity to choreograph on Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in August of 2021. She has served as Choreographer Assistant for El Teatro de Danza Contemporanea and guest choreographer for Black Movement Dance Theater at Georgetown University, Your Soul’s Movement Performing Arts, (Denver Co.); Hill Dance Academy Theater (Pittsburgh); Straight to the Pointe Dance Company (Phila.) and others. Katherine is former Co-Director of Adrain Bolton and Katherine Smith Dance Center, Artistic Program Manager for BodyMoves and Artistic Director for BodyMoves Contemporary Dance Company. Ms. Smith is currently the Executive/Artistic Director of Katherine Smith Contemporary Dance Ensemble (formerly known as Vision). Having served on the dance faculty of Howard University for 17 years, she is currently serving on the dance faculty of Jones-Haywood Dance School, Inc., and The Washington School of Ballet (TheArc/SE Campus).