W. Earle Smith has over 35 years of professional experience choreographing, teaching and performing. This is Mr. Smith's nineteenth season with the Madison Ballet as Artistic Director.
As a dancer, D Magazine called Mr. Smith "meticulously chosen and prepared...who knows Balanchine." The Wisconsin State Journal hails his choreography as "imaginative and...rhythmically smooth and lively" with the Capital Times saying Artistic Director W. Earle Smith "more than delivered on every level."
Some of Mr. Smith's principal and soloist credits with Texas Ballet Theater formerly known as the Fort Worth Dallas Ballet include Balanchine's Western Symphony, Four Temperaments, Who Cares, Meija's Sonata, Eight by Adler, Sarasate, Seasons, Nutcracker, and Cinderella.
Favorite corps de ballet roles at Pacific Northwest Ballet and Fort Worth Ballet include Stowell's Ravenia, Nutcracker with sets and costumes designed by Maurice Sendek, Balanchine's Stars n' Stripes, Rubies, Western Symphony,Prodigal Son, Brahms Schoenberg, Agon, Concerto Barocco,Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, Square Dance, Scotch Symphony; Meija's Brahms' Waltzes, Les Noches, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet.
Mr. Smith's preparation for his role as Artistic Director goes beyond the traditional. He worked as a Youth Counselor for inner-city youth in New York City, a financial and business analyst, as well as director of special projects for a national membership association.
Currently, Mr. Smith's passion is passing on his knowledge and art through his teaching and choreography in the performing arts. He has taught workshops, conferences and master classes in the Balanchine technique and style both nationally and internationally, including guest teaching at Ballet Arizona, Ballet Pacifica and Ballet Chicago. Some of Mr. Smith's choreography credits in New York, New Orleans, Hawaii, Seattle, Texas and Madison include Dracula, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Night Dances, Le Luce d' Amore, and Four Movements.
Mr. Smith has long believed that collaborating with other performing arts organizations not only expands his own personal artistic growth, but strengthens the performing arts community as a whole. His collaboration as choreographer in CTM's Hello Dolly, Madison Symphony Orchestra's Viennese Ball, and Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra's Halloween Concert and The Class demonstrates this commitment to collaboration.
W. Earle Smith's passion is sharing his love for ballet with young people. An important part of his artistic vision is to develop and expand education and outreach programs, making ballet affordable and accessible to all.
