Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kim Smith. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Kim, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

In the summer of 2015 I was struggling as a parent of child with special needs to find exctracurricular activities for my daughter outside of therapies. I realized in a pretty short amount of time that there weren’t classes available to provide the support she needed. I remember one week my husband bringing her home from cheer/gymnasics class and him telling me they still didn’t have volunteer support for her. In the moment I was feeling all the things: sadness, frustration and anger…..so I made a post on Facebook about the need for a class for children with special needs and just a short few minutes later my phone rang.

You know those moments when you wish for something having no idea it’s going to happen and then in a split second you are like grateful but also what did I just sign up for….that was me! Just a few weeks passed and with just a short time to plan (and literally flying by the seat of my pants) myself and one volunteer that I recruited took a leap of faith and it was the best risk if that’s what you want to call it, that I’ve ever taken.

Kim, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am 56 years young and am a native North Carolinian. I started dance at the age of 2 and danced all the way through high school and on into college where I was on the dance team. I taught dance and gymnastics for several different studios over the years. I was crowned “Majorette Queen of America 1988” and was “Miss UNCC 49er” around the same time….you know all the typical dance things….. but when my youngest was born Reagan who will be 14 in September and diagnosed with autism at 18months old….. in the summer of 2015 when she was 5 and I made that post and got a phone call…..that was the 1st time I knew how God wanted me to use dance…..it was then I knew why He provided me a vessel to make a difference for others with dance as a platform. We’ve always been a dance family….My mother loved all things performing arts and dance her whole life.

Reagan has 2 older sisters: Cameron, 30 yrs old, mother to my almost 1yr old grandson Luke and she is also a dance teacher….

Kaylyn, 28 yrs old, mother to my almost 5yr old granddaughter Alice and my other almost 1yr old grandson Oliver… Alice was diagnosed with subcortical band heterotopia and dances in my program.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission is simple and I don’t have to work hard to be inspired to be driven……my students keep me driven to dance and driven to make a difference. As cliche as it sounds for me it’s all about the opposite of what most people want…..so often (myself included in the beginning) are about acceptance and inclusion. Here’s the thing it’s 2023 so I don’t feel like I should have to be working so hard every single day begging people to accept us or to include us. When I first started the program that is literally ALL I focused on and over the past 8yrs it literally feels like those wheel are still spinning but getting us nowhere so now I’m more of a just create the opportunity yourself kind of girl. Don’t wait for permission….just make it happen because these kids deserve it. In other words my mission is for the kids, teens and young adults in my program to just be who they authentically are. People who don’t take the time to truly see them….it’s their loss.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of A Chance To Dance has been the ability to see how it’s changed lives….not just of our students and their families but how life changing it is for the young people who are the backbone of our program: our volunteers, our mentors, our teachers and guest choreographers….the impact our students have on them. I’ve had young people who were volunteers with the program who’ve gone on to college to go into special education, therapies that provide services for special needs….it’s just been incredible to see happen. There’s no way I could put into words all the things that make ACTD rewarding: the friendships it’s provided my daughter Reagan and I with, the opporunities it’s provided my dancers and the love and outpouring of support from so many other studios across the US.

Contact Info:

• Website: achancetodancecharlotte.com
• Instagram: achancetodance_clt
• Facebook: @achancetodancenc
• Youtube: @AChanceToDanceTheMovement

Image Credits
Karen Garfein Phil Roccuzzo Lily McCabe