Announcing 2025 Artists in Residence...
South Chicago Dance Theatre (SCDT) is a multicultural organization seamlessly fusing classical and contemporary dance styles as well as preserving historic dance work. With Choreographic Diplomacy™ at the heart of the organization, SCDT creates, performs, and teaches dance on a local, national, and international platform. Since the 2017 launch, the Main Company has toured regionally, nationally and internationally to the Netherlands, South America, South Korea and Vietnam and commissioned the choreographic work of
renowned artists. Its collaborative initiatives have included music ensembles, television, opera, art museums and public schools through a range of performances and educational programs. Recent recognition includes support from the Princess Grace USA foundation, and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Foster Innovation Award. Kia S. Smith has been honored with a 3Arts Make A Wave Award, a Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist Award, she participated in the Choreography Fellowship at the School at Jacob’s Pillow and was named one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch for 2024.
Kia Smith, Founder, Director, Resident Choreographer
Kia S. Smith is a Chicago native and her early training included Hyde Park School of Dance, The Joel Hall Dance Center, ETA Creative Arts Foundation, StoryCatchers Theatre, and the American Dance Festival. She holds a BFA in Dance from Western Michigan University and an MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she was an Advanced Opportunity Program Fellow.
She is the Founder and Director of Vision and Strategy for South Chicago Dance Theatre, the company’s Resident Choreographer and the founder of its signature programs the Emerging Artist Program, South Chicago Dance Festival, Choreographic Diplomacy™ Program, Education and Community Programs and Teen Workforce Development Initiatives. As a freelance choreographer, Kia’s recent and upcoming commissions include Madison Ballet (2021), Chicago Repertory Ballet (2022), Houston Contemporary Dance Company (2023), Chicago Opera Theater (2023), Ruth Page Civic Ballet Training Company (2022), University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2023), Giordano Dance Chicago (2023), Western Michigan University (2023), Southeast Missouri State University (2024), Opera Laguna (2024), New Dance Partners (2024), Resilience Dance (2024), Columbia College Chicago (2024) and Scottish Ballet School (2025). Kia’s first evening length work Memoirs of Jazz in the Alley for South Chicago Dance Theatre premiered at the Auditorium Theater of Chicago in 2023 and See Chicago Dance affirmed “Smith’s first evening length piece ‘Memoirs’ is a tour de force and a sensory immersion into this artists creative well springs”.
Kia is a member of the International Association of Blacks in Dance where she received the Joan Myers Brown Artist Development Fund scholarship in 2018. In 2021, she was a 3Arts Make A Wave awardee and an Ann & Weston Hicks Choreographic Fellow at the renowned Jacobs Pillow. She was a 2022 Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist and a participant in the Artist in Residence ``AIR`` Program at the Cliff Dwellers Chicago. Kia was named a Rising Star in 2023 by Chicago Magazine, Player of the Moment in the category of Dance for New City Magazine's annual 50 Players List in 2023 and one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch for 2024.
South Chicago Dance Theatre will present a concert on Friday May 30th, 7:30 pm at UT Eccles Mainstage.
Workshop participants in the Professional level will have the opportunity to learn and perform SCDT repertory. Directors and company members will also be teaching various workshop classes!