Dacquiri Smittick

Dacquiri Smittick is passionate about using the arts to create access to the world because that is what it did for her. She is currently the Director of Production for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York City where she has been fortunate enough to work for the past 19 years in various capacities. Dacquiri began her career at Ailey as a student in 1997 when she moved from Los Angeles, CA to follow the path of becoming a professional dancer. While studying at The Ailey School, Dacquiri had the opportunity to take a deep dive into the inner workings of the organization as a student worker. She worked in the Finance, Marketing, Development and Financial Aid departments as well as working along side Judith Jamison’s Executive Assistant over the course of her 3-year training. As Dacquiri’s training was coming to a close in 2000 she was offered an opportunity to work with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as a Ticket Coordinator for the 5-week holiday performance season in New York City. Though this wasn’t performing, Dacquiri took this opportunity to expand her knowledge of the administrative side of performances. Following that season Ms. Smittick was offered a job to tour with the company on their 13 week National tour as the Tour Merchandise Manager. As she saw it this was the perfect match of all she knew at the time: retail, travel and dance. That tour opened Dacquiri’s eyes to a world she truly never knew existed. She had been seeing dance performances her entire life and even performed in many but she really never took the time to understand how everything came into place for the audience to enjoy the art in it purest, professional form. In that moment Dacquiri realized her purpose had shifted from being a performer to being apart of the process. Dacquiri set her eyes on Production and didn’t hold back in learning all she could from hanging lights to floor buffing to steaming costumes to calling shows. She tapped into her closest resources, which were her colleagues who didn’t hold back on sharing everything they knew with Dacquiri, she got the best education, real life experience. In 2004, Dacquiri was promoted to Company Manager and held that post for 10 years before assuming the role of Director of Production in 2014. Dacquiri now sits at the top of the company helping to ensure Robert Battle’s artistic vision comes to life while maintaining a 7 figure operating budget, touring the company 25 weeks a year and working with cutting edge choreographers and design teams. Dacquiri takes pride in producing performances for Ailey around the globe. Dacquiri has a wonderful supportive partner, Daven, who is constantly pushing her to reach higher. They share two beautiful children, Denver age 4 and Duke age 1. They travel with Dacquiri as often as they can because she wants to make sure they get to partake in the life she is creating for them. She credits her mother for never making her feel limited and for always encouraging her to put 100% into whatever she feels passionate about. Dance was the vehicle that allowed Dacquiri to see the world and expand her mind. She wants to take all she has learned and share her experiences with younger artists who don’t realize that those art classes they are taking now don’t limit them to performing but allow them access to so much more. Tapping into creativity in the mind is their passport to the world. Dacquiri challenges herself to learn something new everyday and always be encouraging.

The arts in education, where it belongs!

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