Monika Felice Smith

MONIKA FELICE SMITH is a professional choreographer, director/movement director, & dancer residing in both Los Angeles & New York. Having transitioned to the contemporary & commercial hip hop world from classical ballet & pointe, her choreography blends a fusion of technical contemporary & hiphop energy. Today, Monika has had the opportunity to choreograph, movement direct & performance coach for artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, FINNEAS, Panic! At The Disco, Bella Poarch, Twenty One Pilots, One Republic, Alessia Cara, Ashe, Bebe Rexha, Sir, DPR Ian, Woosung, Angel Olsen, Sam Fischer, Lennon Stella, Sub Urban, Wengie, Leah Kate, Role Model, Lil TJay and more.

Monika’s work can be seen in feature films such as, Mother’s Instinct w/ Anne Hathaway & Jessica Chastain (Coming Soon) & TV specials such as Hulu’s Huluween Dragstravaganza. Her work is featured in ads & commercials for Nike/Jordan, Lululemon, Fabletics for Liza Koshy, Kelly Rowland & Vanessa Hudgens, JustFab, Yitty, Oculus, Supernatural, Spyder Athletics & Flaunt Magazine for Joey King & Maude Apatow.

Monika’s work has been awarded the World Choreography Award for “Best Choreography in a Commercial” for Spyder Korea. She was also nominated with the production teams for MTV Video Music Awards for FINNEAS’ Let’s Fall In Love For The Night, Panic! At The Disco’s Viva Las Vengeance & Twenty One Pilots’ Saturday. Monika received a UKMVA nomination for “Best Choreography in a Video” & “Best Dance/Electronic” for Waze & Odyssey, Tommy Theo, George Michael & Mary J. Blige’s Always. Monika and the production team were winners of the “How The Hell Did They Do That?” for Always MV at SXSW 2021.

Monika’s dance credits include Paramount Network’s Michael Jackson’s Lip Sync Battle Live Tribute, Spyder Athletics for Milan & NYC Fashion Week 2020 & NY Virtual Fashion Week 2021, music videos with artists such as Meghan Trainor, Bella Poarch, Jeremih, Jay Rock, Elle King & Sam Fischer, also dancing in commercials such as PRISM for SnapChat and performing at the Staples Center as a member of the WNBA Sparks Crew.

Monika is the founder & director of LUME Dance, alongside choreographer & business partner MaryAnn Chavez.

Monika enjoys educating and training dancers in her Masterclasses and private training sessions around the globe. Her strength lies in storytelling; fusing movement with intention & raw emotion. She enjoys playing with shape, texture and musicality, while grounding her choreography with technical elements. Monika is excited to share and instill her love of movement with all audiences in all forms.