CHRISTA SMUTEK

choreographer

SHE/HER

Christa is the Artistic Director of Artistic Edge Dance Centre, Director of the in-studio intensive, The Collective Movement, and Founder of her project based dance company, Smutek Dance. 

Christa studied at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and received her B.S. in Movement Science from the School of Kinesiology graduating with distinction and University Honors. Christa continued on to perform professionally with various smaller companies throughout the midwest and has been teaching and choreographing for the past 15 years.

Her commissioned choreography has been showcased at numerous festivals and events including Spring To Dance, Indiana Dance Festival, Columbus Arts Festival, RADFest Midwest, and Dance Canvas. She was awarded the Best Choreography winner at the Detroit Dance City Festival in 2021. Most recently, Christa was one of eight choreographers selected for the Ann & Weston Hicks Choreography Fellowship at Jacob’s Pillow, under the direction of Risa Steinberg and Dianne McIntyre.

Christa established Smutek Dance in 2019 where she continues to present her works at WhiteWave SoloDuo Festival, CDCFest Orlando, World of Dance, and Dumbo Dance.

Her film Unchained was awarded Festival Favorite, Newbie Filmmaker, in Opine Dance Film Festival 2020. She has also presented films at Screendance International, Dancentric, and Cinedanza Italy.

Christa continues to set award-winning competitive dance pieces and teaches masterclasses across the country. She is the proud mother of Eli Antony Smutek, born in 2018.

Photo by Michelle Reid