Katherine Smothers

MINDS IN MOTION DIRECTOR

Hometown: Richmond, VA // Joined: 1992

Katherine Smothers has dedicated more than three decades to Richmond Ballet as a professional dancer, a founding Minds In Motion Teaching Artist, writer, choreographer, and arts administrator. After training with School of Richmond Ballet, she graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.A. in Political Science. In 1992, Katherine joined Richmond Ballet's professional company, performing a diverse repertoire for six seasons. As a founding Minds In Motion teaching artist in 1995, Katherine helped build the program from its earliest days. Throughout her career, she has served as a MIM Teaching Artist, Associate School Director of Community Engagement, faculty member of School of Richmond Ballet, and MIM Artistic Associate, where she enjoys researching, writing scripts, choreographing, and leading the MIM Ambassador Bridge program. Throughout Virginia, she coordinated MIM Residency Programs, including currently in Portsmouth. In 2009, Katherine helped establish the international MIM Israel Residency, participating in all twelve residencies. Katherine is honored to build on Minds In Motion's legacy of using dance to inspire confidence, creativity, connection, and joy in every student. At its heart, Minds In Motion brings students together to build community, support one another, and experience the lifelong impact of movement and the arts.