Kerri Smith

                  Kerri Amanda Smith a sixteen year old who is currently attending Hidden Valley high school and lives with her mother Anne and sister Rebecca is a talented competitive dancer who has won many awards in multiple styles of dance. She is going on her 13^th year dancing and has performed in front of thousands of people in multiple states. She trains in 6 different styles of dance including ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, hip hop, and musical theater. “Dance is my rock” says Smith. “It helps me when I’m down I do it when I’m bored it’s literally like my everything”.

                  Even though she trains in 6 different styles of dance she says her favorites are jazz and tap. “I like jazz because I really feel like I can be myself and show who I really am” says Smith. “A lot of people don’t do tap anymore so I like to think I’m keeping that art alive”. Being a talented dancer comes with a heavy commitment, Kerri said she trains 4-6 days a week year around with the exception of a week or two off at a time.

                  Even though Kerri loves dancing, she says she does not want to pursue a career in it after high school. She wants to go to the University of South Carolina and become a math or English teacher. “You have that idea of the perfect college in your head that was it for me” says Smith. She said one of her role models is one of her old English teachers from Northside named Mrs. Fry. “She was such a fun teacher and so engaging to everyone.” Says Smith. Even though smith doesn’t want to pursue a career in dance she still wants to practice her passion for years to come.