Erica Rae Smith

Dance Artist | Educator | Choreographer | Mentor

Erica Rae Smith is a dance artist, educator, choreographer, and mentor whose career reflects a commitment to artistic development, cultural exploration, and dance education.

A Philadelphia native, she holds a B.F.A. in Modern Dance from the University of the Arts. Her work draws from an extensive background in Modern, Horton, Umfundalai (Contemporary African Dance), Ballet, Jazz, South African dance, and Jamaican Dancehall, with a particular interest in the connections between movement, identity, and the African Diaspora.

Erica's professional performance experience includes working with Tania Isaac Dance and Lesole’s Dance Project. As a choreographer, her work has been presented at venues and festivals including the Howard Theatre, DC Dance Summit, Clarice Performing Arts Center, A Place to Dance Festival, Platform Black Dance Festival, and NACHMO DC. She received the John F. Kennedy Center Local Dance Commission Project award in 2018. In 2025, she was selected as a Dance Canvas choreographer to present her work at the Rialto Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2026, she was selected as a choreographer for the ICONS Choreographers’ Collective at Atlas Performing Arts Center in Washington, DC.

With experience teaching across K–12, collegiate, and community settings, Erica brings a diverse perspective to dance education. She currently serves as an adjunct professor of dance at Bowie State University, teaching Modern and African Diasporic dance forms. In 2026, she earned her Professional Level Certification in Umfundalai through the National Association of American African Dance Teachers (NAAADT), reflecting her continued commitment to artistic growth and culturally grounded teaching practices.

In addition to her work as an educator and choreographer, Erica is the founder and artistic director of Raediant Movement, LLC, established in 2011. Through her leadership, she has developed performances, workshops, and educational programs that connect communities through dance while creating opportunities for artistic expression and professional development.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience as a dancer, educator, and independent artist, Erica offers personalized dance training, choreography, mentorship, and professional guidance. Whether working with emerging dancers, experienced artists, educators, or organizations, she encourages individuals to strengthen their technique, develop their artistic voice, and navigate the opportunities and challenges of the dance field with confidence.

At the center of Erica's work is a belief that movement carries knowledge, history, and the potential for connection. Her approach combines technical development, cultural understanding, and individual exploration to support dancers and artists at different stages of their journeys.