Suzanne Smith joined the San Angelo Civic Ballet as Artist in Residence in January 2010 and became the Associate Artistic Director for the 2010-2011 season.  A native of Harrisburg, PA, she began her studies at the Harrisburg Academy of Dance.  At the age of 15, she began to train at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary.  Upon graduation in 2000, Mrs. Smith performed professionally with the International Ballet Theatre in Philadelphia.  At the International Ballet Theatre under Alexander Boitsov's coaching Mrs. Smith performed classical variations from Le Corsaire, Don Quixote, Nutcracker, Esmerelda and Paquita. She joined the Peoria Ballet in Illinois for their 2003 winter season, then became a part of the Rafael Grigorian Ballet Theatre in New York from 2005-2008.  She has performed the principal roles in Mr. Grigorian's original full length ballets Baba Yaga, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, and the Nutcracker.  Mrs. Smith has taught for the Rafael Grigorian School of Classical Ballet in Elmira, NY and for the CPYB in Carlisle, PA as a full time faculty member and continues to instruct at CPYB summer programs.  She has guest taught throughout the PA and NY regions and is grateful to God for the opportunity to teach in San Angelo.