Photo by Cathryn Farnsworth

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Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Elizabeth Smiley is a natural-born mover whose artistry stems from self-healing through movement. Her journey began with liturgical dance in her church ensemble, grounding her inspiration in the joyous, spiritual nature of communal gathering and music. She attended DeKalb School of the Arts and trained at Dancemakers of Atlanta, later solidifying her foundation in modern, ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary through summer intensives with Alvin Ailey and The Black Arts Dance Collective.

Elizabeth is pursuing a BFA at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. Through USC’s abroad programs, she studied in Berlin and Paris, broadening her international perspective and appreciation for every culture’s contribution to the arts. She has performed works by renowned choreographers, including Jiří Kylián, Martha Graham, Saleemah E. Knight, Spencer Theberge, Bruce McCormick, and Caili Quan. After attending the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago EXPLORE Intensive, she received the Summer Intensive Fellows Program Award and was invited back for a week-long residency to participate in a World Premiere creation during their 2026–2027 season.

Alongside dance, Elizabeth is minoring in Entrepreneurship at USC’s Marshall School of Business. She aims to blend dance and fashion by creating immersive activations that amplify the voices of marginalized artists. Through the Kaufman Connections program, she has honed her skills in teaching and mentoring young dancers. Elizabeth’s dedication to education, diversity, and equity fuels her artistic passions and her belief that the arts will save the world.