Adult Program Faculty, Faculty, Upper Division Faculty
Katherine Smith a native Washingtonian, is a graduate from The Duke Ellington School of the Arts and received her B.F.A. from the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts [currently University of the Arts]. Smith has worked with renowned choreographers ncluding James Truitte, Talley Beatty, Donald McKayle, Eleo Pomare, Ulysseus Dove, Milton Myers, Donald Byrd, Doug Varone, Kevin “Iega” Jeff, and Faye Snow. Her concert experiences include Dayton Contemporary, Rod Rodgers, Forces of Nature, Gallman’s Newark, New World, DC Contemporary, and Juba Dance Company. Other dance experiences as Assistant to choreographer include, Jacob’s Pillow and American Dance Festival. She has toured Europe with Mike Malone’s “Black Nativity” and Africa in “Spirit”; Beijing, China in the First Pacific Cultural Exchange; Vienna, Austria for the 6th Annual Summer Dance Festival; and Seoul, Korea sponsored by American Dance Festival.
A member of Actor’s Equity Association, Smith’s theater credits include Debbie Allen’s “Soul Possessed” at Kennedy Center (DC and Alliance Theater (Atlanta); George Faison’s “For Colored Girls” at American Place Theater in New York (Off Broadway) and Baltimore Center Stage; Mike Malone’s “Black Nativity” at the Kennedy Center in which she received the O’Keefer Award for Best Female Dancer in a Musical Production; “Bessie’s Blues” at Studio Theater (Helen Hayes Award); “Purlie” at the Fox Theater in Atlanta; and the National Tour of “The Wiz.” Smith has been recognized as a performer, choreographer, and an instructor by receiving the Honors Award by the International Association of Blacks in Dance and is currently a board member. Smith has extended her professional dance training with a commitment to aspiring youth through dance education in the direction of mentor, instructor, choreographer, and director in association with established amateur/professional performing companies and community outreach programs. Previously Smith was Co-Artistic Director for Adrain Bolton & Katherine Smith Dance Center and DC Dance Explosion (bringing DC dancers together). Also, she was Artistic Program Manager for BodyMoves as well as Artistic Director of two youth ensembles, BodyMoves Contemporary Dance Company. Smith has also served as guest choreographer and instructor for Your Soul’s Movement (Denver); Hill Dance Academy, (Pittsburgh); Georgetown University, Black Movement Dance Theater and Howard University.
Smith continues to serve as Summer Program instructor for Philadanco (1st & 2nd company / summer participants) with choreography on Danco 3 and looks forward to choreographing for Philadanco/1st Company in 2020. She is currently the Executive and Artistic Director of Katherine Smith Contemporary Dance Ensemble and serves on the dance faculty of Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Jones Haywood Dance School.
