About

BIOGRAPHY

Lydia Smith was born in Wuhan, China, and raised in Salt Lake City, UT. She started dancing at the age of 7 with Kim Luke at Artistic Endeavours Dance, training in ballet, tap, and jazz, and later joined the program’s teaching assistant program. After Lydia grew out of the small program, she continued her training at Salt Lake Dance Center and the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts. At Salt Lake Dance Center she trained in ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, modern, and pointe with teachers like Jillana Webb, Charlotte Kelley, Megan Southwick, Madi Bruce, and Kristin Marie Breding. While attending the Salt Lake School for the Performing Arts, Lydia trained in Ballet, Jazz, and Modern with Michelle Armstrong, Jessie Metcalf-McCullough, and Bethany Hansen. She was also a member of the Dance Conservatory for three years and acted as a Dance Conservatory Officer and the Dance Department Ambassador her senior year. Currently, Lydia is working towards her BFA in Modern Dance at the University of Utah and is in the midst of her senior year. Lydia has also had the opportunity to attend workshops and intensives with artists and companies such as Ballet Hispanico, Ririe Woodbury, and Repertory Dance Company. 

During her time at the University of Utah, she has trained under professionals such as Sara Pickett, Daniel Clifton, Natalie Desch, Kiri Avelar, and other esteemed faculty and graduate students. Lydia has had the privilege to take classes such as ballet, various modern techniques, flamenco, contact improvisation, hip hop, improvisation/choreography, musical theater, anatomy, screendance, and dance history. She has performed in works by Victor Rottier, Rena Butler, Viola Farber, Ephrat Asherie, and Natosha Washington, and collaborated with other students in creative works. Lydia has also been able to take other classes within the University like Vocal Training, Wheel Pottery, and Music Technology.

Lydia is highly interested in story-driven, world-building, and environment-based work and is currently researching those concepts at the University. She is also in the process of creating her first evening-length work set to premiere in Spring of 2025. 

Outside of performance, Lydia enjoys crocheting, ice skating, covering kpop dances, taking her cat Oscar on walks, and eating good food with her friends.

ARTIST STATEMENT

As a creator, I find great intrigue in storytelling and I strive to invoke strong emotions within the audience by creating works that have clarity and narrative elements. Often these works start with a concept, and then I determine if/what music is appropriate for that concept, and create movement based around the idea. In addition, I aim to create concepts that compliment the people I am working with, and/or I adjust the concept as needed. 

Environment plays a significant role in the stories I create. Not every stage is the same, but by using the specific resources provided, stories can become more interactive and engaging for both the audience and performers. Regardless if my work is being performed on a large stage with lights and special effects, or a in a small studio with little to nothing, the piece should feel like it belongs in that specific place. 

Dance should be accessible to everyone regardless of background, experience, or ability. I apply this principle when setting work by adjusting movement to the needs of the performers and by creating for the individuals I am working with. Creating a piece is an enjoyable process for me, and I hope to foster that same enjoyment in the people I collaborate with.