Katriel Smit

Katriel Smit grew up in Palmer, Alaska, where she began her training at Sonja’s Studio of Performing Arts under Lesley Gray, Mary Sparrs, and Jamie Metcalf, with additional study at Ballet Magnificat!’s summer dance intensive. While attending Whitworth University for her Bachelor of Science in Biology, she took classes with teachers including Pam Erickson and explored dance as an embodied and sacred practice with Judy Mandeville. She served as artistic director of Jubilation Dance Ministry and received the Mandeville Taylor Doane Award for her leadership.

Katriel returned to Whitworth in 2022 for her Doctor of Physical Therapy and completed a clinical experience at SF Performing Arts PT, treating dancers from San Francisco Ballet and LINES Ballet. She is now a licensed physical therapist focusing on orthopedics and pelvic health, with a special interest in dance physical therapy, and regularly treats professional and student dancers of all ages across Spokane.

Katriel has performed with Amber Hongsermeier/Dancers and in multiple seasons of Rising Tide with Kindling Productions. She teaches dance locally, conceiving and directing original full-length productions. Her original choreography has been presented at Terrain and 12 Minutes Max. Katriel is passionate about changing dance culture from the inside out, bringing evidence-based movement science to the forefront of dance pedagogy.

When she isn’t moving, you can find Katriel spending time with family and friends or working on a fiber arts project (or five)!