Nancy S. Smith, Artistic Director

E-RYT® 200, RYT® 500, YACEP®

DANCE, MA   ANTIGRAVITY© FITNESS, YOGA & BARRE

Nancy has been working in the field of movement education for over 25 years. She first began her dance training at the age of 3 and continued to train classically throughout college. Dance being her passion she went on to study it as a career at Meredith College where she completed a B.A. in dance education along with K-12 NC certification in dance. Very soon after graduation she moved to the arts capital – NYC. After completing her MA degree at New York University’s Steinhardt School for Education, Culture & Human Development, she began working in both dance administration and education in New York City’s public and private institutions. Nancy has been on the faculty and directed programs at Harkness Dance Center’s 92Y, Peridance Capezio Center, and Brooklyn Ballet. She instructed classes at UNIS, the United Nations International School as well as Village Community School in Manhattan. Her work has been seen at venues such as Frederick Loewe Theatre & The Skirball Center for Performing Arts, both at NYU as well as Aaron Davis Hall, The Tank, Peridance Capezio Center and Harkness Dance Center which is a part of  92nd Street Y, New York City’s world-class cultural and community center. 

In 2011 Nancy earned a 200 hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification plus completed an additional Vinyasa Flow training. In 2019 she completed a 300 hour training in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica with Tamal Yoga of Yoga Salt.  She is certified in CPR, Pilates Mat and has earned an additional youth yoga training through Rainbow Kids International Yoga for children and families. Nancy is an accredited instructor through Yoga Alliance. She and Movement Works are registered as continuing education providers.  She has traveled to Central America, Mexico, Europe, India, Jamaica, Morocco, Thailand and Indonesia to practice and share her love of movement and music.

She is also the founding director of Community Movement Alliance, our county’s first non profit organization rooted in movement based education, geared toward spreading mindful movement practices with our underserved youth population in public schools. Carolina Soul Festival is a a holistic arts and music festival carried out to support the outreach mission, which she began in 2017 and ran for 3 seasons. 

Nancy completed SUP Level I training in 2018.  She is also Reiki Level I certified. Since 2018 Nancy has served on dance faculty of Leland Cultural Arts Center and Dreams of Wilmington as a teaching artist as where she instructs classes to both adults and children. In 2022 she trained with AntiGravity® Fitness where she became certified in Aerial Yoga Fundamentals I & II. The following year she also completed a Restorative Aerial Yoga Certification with AIReal© Yoga. In 2023 Nancy completed a certification in the practice of Yin Yoga with Hands on Assist. She also co-lead a yoga retreat in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala alongside Cairn Travels. 

In 2016 Movement Works was awarded the “Rising Star” award from the Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce. In 2018 Nancy was nominated for the prestigious “Woman of the Year” award at the first Women of Impact Awards ceremony. She is also a proud rescue mom of an 8 pound little guy named KabukiSan.

Nancy joined the ensemble cast of Opera House Theatre Company’s production of The Producers in late December 23′ through its completed run ending in January 24′. She is looking forward to more upcoming theatre adventures.