Aaron Smith is a passionate performing dance artist, choreographer, and educator. Aaron earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Science in Dance from Wayne State University (WSU). Mr. Smith also served as an adjunct instructor at the UofA School of Dance and WSU Theater and Dance.
As a performer, he danced in principal and featured roles with companies such as Ron De Jesus Dance, Autumn Eckman Dance, Detroit Dance Collective, ArtlabJ Contemporary Dance, Squeeze and Release, and Chicago Dance in the Parks. Aaron served as an assistant and is blessed to be mentored by Meg Paul, Dean of the Joffrey Ballet School. He also received extensive training with the Complexions Contemporary Ballet Artistic Directors, Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson. Additionally, Aaron has performed in works by renowned choreographers, including Sonya Tayeh, Mandy Moore, Larry Keigwin, Michael Williams, Sam Watson, Nicholas Leichter, and Miguel Perez.
As a choreographer, assistant choreographer, and repetiteur, Aaron restaged classical and contemporary works at collegiate dance schools and institutions nationwide, including Jacksonville University, Virginia Commonwealth University, Oakland University, Northwestern University, Shenandoah University, Washington and Lee University, Cranbrook Institute, Visceral Dance Chicago, and Joffrey Academy of Dance.
Notably, Aaron’s passion for dance extends to his role as an educator. He worked as an adjunct faculty member at the UofA, for which he was recognized with the UofA School of Dance 2017 Creative Achievement Award. From 2020-2021, he served as the Artistic Director for Tucson Regional Ballet. In 2023, Aaron took the role of Program Coordinator for the Complexions Contemporary Ballet Academy Summer Intensives at the University of Southern California and Marymount Manhattan College in 2023.
Aaron was a guest teaching artist for Detroit Dance Collective during the 2023-2024 season. He then joined as a company dancer for their 45th anniversary season in 2025. Currently, Aaron is a part-time faculty member at WSU, where he teaches, contemporary, Dance Professions online, and World Dance History. He also was on the audition tour faculty with the Joffrey Ballet School in 2026. Aaron’s choreography was recently showcased at the WSU DEPT of Theater and Dance show, The SpongeBob Musical.
