Janet Smith, Artistic Director of Scottish Dance Theatre for 14 years, is to take up the post of principal at Northern School of Contemporary Dance (NSCD) in February 2012.

During her time with SDT, Scotland’s national contemporary dance company, the organisation has grown in size, talent and strength from 5 to 22 staff and become one of Creative Scotland’s Foundation Organisations.

Janet’s drive and passion have led SDT to become an award winning, internationally renowned company. Her experience and eye for talent has created partnerships with both established and up and coming choreographers.

It is a testament to her style of leadership that many SDT dancers have gone on to become successful choreographers and directors themselves, to dance with international companies or else have stayed with the company for many years.

Through Janet’s guidance SDT is recognized nationally for pioneering leadership in Arts and Disability.

The skill and talent emerging from within the company under Janet Smith’s leadership has enabled a clear interim plan to be put in place whilst the company recruits a new Artistic Director. Current SDT Rehearsal Director/Dancer James MacGillivray, will take up the position of Acting Artistic Director and SDT dancer Joan Clevillé, a choreographic power within the company, will step up to the role of Acting Rehearsal Director.

James MacGillivray recently gained an MA in Contemporary Dance specializing in authentic leadership, through the London School of Contemporary Dance. In his two and a half years at SDT, Joan Clevillé has displayed a clear choreographic talent. His recent work Dreamt for Light Years was performed by SDT during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and at several international festivals in summer 2011.

Janet Smith said: “It has been a wonderful time in my life, working in the creative family of Scottish Dance Theatre – a world class company and a cultural ambassador for Scotland.

I’ll miss friends and colleagues here at Dundee Rep and across the dance and arts community in Scotland. But a rare opportunity to contribute more broadly to the next generation of dance artists, has come my way, and with the company on top form and mid-term funding secured, the timing feels right to step aside from the company and make way for fresh artistic leadership.

I’m happy that my leaving creates the space for two of our most experienced artists, James and Joan, to shift up into new interim leadership roles for which I think they are more than ready. The appointment of SDT’s next Artistic Director will be made in spring, with a provisional start date in August 2012. I aim to relish these final months with company, before I take up my new post in February and I’m sure I will haste me back often to Dundee and Scotland.”

James Brining, Chief Executive of Dundee Rep, of which SDT is a part said: “Janet Smith has made an extraordinary contribution to Scottish Dance Theatre and to Dundee Rep as a whole. Under her direction the company has grown and developed into a wonderful asset for the Scottish cultural scene. We shall all miss her passion, intelligence and determination.”

www.scottishdancetheatre.com

Source: Scottish Dance Theatre