FACULTY

Philadelphia-born choreographer and educator Erica Rae Smith is Founder/Artistic Director of Raediant Movement LLC. She earned a BFA in Modern Dance from The University of the Arts and holds an M’Singha Wuti–level certification in Umfundalai contemporary African technique. Her multidisciplinary training, South African, Jamaican Dancehall, Caribbean Folk, Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Horton, and Umfundalai—grounds her work in both technical breadth and cultural depth. Erica has performed with Tania Isaac Dance, Lesole’s Dance Project, and Connecting Vibes USA/VB Dance Ensemble, while teaching culturally responsive dance across Maryland K–12 classrooms. Since founding Raediant Movement in 2011, she has curated performances and workshops that connect communities to African-rooted movement traditions. That curatorial work selecting guest artists, vetting budgets, and measuring community impact has honed her critical eye, fiscal acumen, and commitment to equitable practice. A 2018 Kennedy Center Local Dance Commissioning Project awardee and 2025 Dance Canvas Atlanta Choreographer Career Development Initiative artist, Erica has navigated rigorous adjudication panels and now brings that firsthand insight to service. Coupled with her ongoing mentorship of educators, these experiences equip her to contribute fair, transparent review and culturally informed perspective as a panelist or editor, leveraging movement as a conduit for storytelling, connection, and collective celebration of the African Diaspora.