The Center of Dance…
Founder/Director Carol Crawford Smith is a former soloist with the Dance Theatre of Harlem where she began her professional dance career in 1978. As a performer, instructor, and educator of dance for nearly 30 years, she is dedicated to providing venues and opportunities to experience excellence in the art of dance. Such experiences are enjoyed by children and adults who participate in classes and performances sponsored by The Center of Dance.
Students of The Center of Dance have gone on to pursue pre-professional and professional careers with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, Joffery Ballet, Lynchburg School of the Arts, Jacob’s Pillow and the Governor’s School in Virginia. Studio alumni have also been accepted and pursued dance degrees at James Madison University, Radford University, University of Texas, University of Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University.
Resident companies, UJIMA and Footnotes, have received national recognition as invited guests at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
In December of 2005, The Center of Dance was awarded a makeover through the ABC television show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. More than 4000 people from Blacksburg, Southwest Virginia, and surrounding areas galvanized to renovate the studio located at 215 Draper Road in Downtown Blacksburg. In addition to the ABC network, leaders in this tremendous extravaganza included Building Specialists, Inc., Newcomb/IES, and Virginia Tech. The premiere airing of the show was Sunday, February 12, 2006.