Sandra C. Atkinson is the Chair of the VPA Dance Department at Northwestern HS where we teachers, mentors, and creates work for the VPA Dance Students. She also the Founder/Artistic Director of Light Switch Dance Theatre where she creates socially conscious multidisciplinary work to be performed in non-traditional spaces. She is most known for her work The Girl Child Project, RedLines, Cool Aid, and NEST for LSDT.

She has a B.A. in Dance from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and an M.A. in Performing Arts: Dance from American University. Sandra currently choreographs works at Montgomery College (Rockville, MD), Black Rock Center fort he Arts (Germantown, MD), and City Ballet (Hagerstown, MD). Her teaching/choreographic credits include American University (Washington, DC), Goucher College (Baltimore, MD), Community College Baltimore County (Essex, MD), American College Dance Festival, Washington Ballet School, Dance Place (ReVision Dance Company class), and for Equinox Dance Company. Sandra has and continues creating works for Agora Dance Company, Equinox Dance Theatre, Jane Franklin Dance Company, Next Reflex Dance Collective, City Ballet, American University and Montgomery College Dance Company. Sandra has performed professionally with Next Reflex Dance Collective, Peter Dimuro, Jane Franklin Dance, Carla & Company at Dance Place, and Liz Lerman Dance Exchange.

In 2012, Sandra was awarded the Smithsonian Faculty Fellowship from Montgomery College and in 2020 she received the Distinguished Alum Award for Dance at UNC Charlotte. She is currently serving on the Dance SLO/Assessment Committee and CVPA Curriculum Committee for PGCPS. As well as, serving as a Judge for the Helen Hayes Awards through TheatreWashington. Sandra also serves on the Grants/Scholarship Committee for Maryland Dance Education Association.

Sandra's theatre work includes choreography for Glass Mind Theatre Company (Baltimore, MD) production of Midsummer Night's Dream, Fells Point Corner Theatre's (Baltimore, MD) production of Durang Durang, Strand Theatre's Production of One Glitz Wish (Baltimore, MD), Montgomery College's production of HONK! , RENT, Godspell, Conference of the Birds (Rockville, MD), Notre Dame of Maryland University's production of Love and Information (Baltimore, MD), Montgomery College's Production of Bat Boy: The Musical, Richard Montgomery High School Production of Guys and Dolls (Rockville, MD), Montgomery College's Production of Avenue Q (Rockville, MD), Montgomery College's Production Urinetown: The Musical (Rockville, MD), Richard Montgomery HS's production of The Little Mermaid, and Montgomery College's of Mr. Burns, A Post Electric Play. Her most recent work includes choreography for Blueberries for Sal at Adventure Theatre and Oliver!: The Musical at Richard Montgomery High School. Sandra's most recent work was as Director for the Kennedy Center REACH Parade and Moderator for Ronald K. Brown/Arturo O'Farrill at Strathmore Music Center (N. Bethesda, MD).

My name is Mrs. Kendra Smith and I am so eager to meet you! I am Faculty of Northwestern HS VPA/Comprehensive Dance program. I am a passionate and dedicated Dance Educator who couldn’t be more excited to begin sharing my dedication, artistry and enthusiasm for dance with all of you in the fall. I am a graduate of Towson University and have taught in both public education and private dance studios over the past 12 years. I am also a former professional dancer with Baltimore Ballet and have danced for local modern dance companies as well. My specialty is ballet; however, I have extensive training in modern, jazz, contemporary and world dance genres. Choreographing is also one of my strengths, so get ready to work hard in preparation for the stage!

When I am not teaching, you will find me enjoying quality time with my family. Mr. Smith and I have a daughter named Lyra and she is going into 2^nd grade. We recently welcomed our puppy Lucy into our family. I also enjoy great food, knitting, yoga, reading and camping.