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 vibes. Today, Monika’s credits include choreography & movement direction for artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, FINNEAS, Panic! At The Disco, Bella Poarch, Alessia Cara, Twenty One Pilots, One Republic, Ashe, Bebe Rexha, Young Thug, Gunna, DPR Ian, Woosung, Angel Olsen, Sam Fischer, Lennon Stella, Wengie, Ingrid Andress, Sky Katz (Disney), Citizen Queen, Role Model, Waze & Odyssey, Samm Henshaw and Adam Melchor, to name a few.

Monika’s work can be seen in feature films such as, Mother’s Instinct w/ Anne Hathaway & Jessica Chastain (Coming Soon). Monika’s choreography can also be seen in Hulu’s Huluween Dragstravaganza. As a movement director & choreographer, her work includes ads/commercials such as Lululemon, Spyder Athletics for Milan Virtual Fashion Week, Nike/Jordan Brand for Teyana Taylor, JustFab & Fabletics for Kelly Rowland, Vanessa Hudgens & Liza Koshy, Flaunt Magazine Cover Shoot for Joey King & Maude Apatow, Oculus VR, Supernatural, Sift Science Technology, ADAY & Sans Gene.

Monika’s work has been awarded the World Choreography Award for “Best Choreography in a Commercial” for Spyder Korea. She was also nominated 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 also 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. 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.