Dance with Brandi Z.

Brandi is a Native of Opelousas and has been involved in the Dance Industry for over three decades.  She is the daughter of Sharon Beadle Smith and the late James F. Smith, and a 1990 Dance Graduate of Sharon Beadle Smith School of Dance.  She is currently the Director of Dance Education and Head Choreographer at her studio, Elite Academy of Dance.  She is “Certified by Test to Teach” through the Louisiana Association of Dance Masters and Dance Masters of America.  Brandi has toured the Country with Dance Olympus as a V.I.P., having had the opportunity to study one on one and assist some of the Nation’s Top Choreographers such as Mia Michaels of “So You Think You Can Dance”, Frank Hatchett of the Broadway Dance Center in New York City, and Jo Rowan of Oklahoma City University.  She moved on to become Summer Tour Director of Dance Olympus out of New York, as well as Regional Director for International Dance Challenge, out of Boca Raton, Florida.  Brandi attended Oklahoma City University where she was a Dance Performance Major and Member of the American Spirit Dance Company.  Many of her former students can be seen on Reality TV Shows, College Dance Teams, and the motion picture “Pitch Perfect”.  Some have also moved on to be a member of the Southern University’s Dancing Dolls, ULL Ragin’ Jazz, ULL Monroe’s Hawkline, New Orleans Saintsations, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders.  One of her student’s has even had the opportunity to dance on stage with Madonna for the Superbowl.  Brandi’s students have won numerous awards on Regional and National Levels and were also chosen to work with Nationally Acclaimed Recording Artist, Gail Moore.  She has choreographed Ballet Scholarship Auditions for Louisiana Association of Dance Masters, Dance Teams, Opelousas Little Theatre, and has instructed Master Classes and Choreography for other studios throughout the state of Louisiana.  Brandi’s passion and love for dance, along with her extensive knowledge and training has made her a wonderful teacher who loves sharing and teaching the Art of Dance.