Director:
Cari Smith Kirkland

   A graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications (Broadcasting), Mrs. Kirkland is the Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Columbia. She has had extensive experience in training and choreographing dancers. Mrs. Kirkland has studied dance in New York and attended the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts. She has studied with such greats as Edward Villella (director of the Miami City Ballet), Mike Minery (world renowned tap artist), Carlos Lopez (A Chorus Line)and Finis Jhung (San Francisco, Joffrey, and Harkness Ballet Companies).She performed in the Spoleto Festival in Charleston and danced for an Eppic Productions television pilot featuring Steve Gatlin. Mrs. Kirkland has choreographed for numerous school and church productions in the Columbia area and taught for many years with Excelsior! Academy (a fine arts program for homeschoolers).