Catherine
Smith - Co-Owner
Certified
Member DMA
Cathy Smith, born in Huntington W.V. and raised in South Florida
has been involved in the performing arts since a young age. She
began her career as an actress in educational television productions
for the school system of Palm Beach County, FL. as a featured
actress. She began dance at the age of 12 at the Joan Bennet School
of Dance. During her high school years, and as a member of the
nationally known, Atlantic High School Eaglettes Drill Team; under
the direction of Genia Howard, she began to study dance at the
Palm Beach Ballet Center under the direction of Joan Miller. The
same instructor as Billy Bell from the hit TV show, "So You
Think You Can Dance".
Following
high school, Cathy took her dance experience to the professional
level as a featured dancer and choreographer at theme parks in
North Carolina and Florida. In addition, she was a featured dancer
at the 1982 Worlds Fair in Knoxville, TN. She continued her formal
dance training at the SunCoast Academy of Dance in St Petersburg,
FL, and attended many workshops and conventions: Tremaine Dance
Conventions, Dance Olympus and Dance Masters.
While
living in Pensacola, Florida, Cathy opened and operated her own
dance studio, Cathy’s School of Dance, which grew to an
enrollment of more than 200 students. During her time in Pensacola,
she was a constant choreographer for the Pensacola Jr. College
dance department, and a member of the Gulf Coast Dance Alliance.
A
move to Houston, TX in 1992, resulted in the sale of her studio
and the opening of another chapter in Cathy’s dance experience.
In Houston, Cathy partnered with Renegade Cheer Academy and Cypress
Academy in developing competitive dance team programs. Her dance
teams represented Cypress Academy in Regional and National Dance
Competitions. In 2000, her dance team took 1st place in the Senior
Jazz division at the “Americas Best” competition in
Dallas and was awarded the National Grand Championship award,
reflecting the highest score total across all divisions and age
groups.
In
2003, Cathy moved to Union, KY with her husband David, and two
children Jennifer and Sara. In 2003, Cathy was hired as a choreographer
for the Ryle High School Raiderettes Dance Team. In 2004, she
accepted the position as Director and Coach for the Ryle Raiderettes.
Under Cathy’s direction, the Raiderettes have competed in
regional competitions and Open Championships and was awarded National
Champion of the AmeriDance Nationals in Indianaloplis, IN in 2009.
In
July 2007, Cathy participated in the Broadway Dance Center Teacher
Workshop, held in New York City. During this convention she had
the privilege to train and learn from some of the dance industry’s
most renowned and respected choreographers such as Mia Michaels,
Rhonda Miller, Finis Jhung, Wade Robson and Brian Friedman. To
continue her education she regularly attends teacher training
workshops.