SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN
DANCE COLLECTIVE
Artistic Director
Olivia Ratliff
As SADC's artistic director, Olivia has solidified her experienced and professional status in the SWVA and Tri-Cities area with her technical virtuosity and expressive demeanor. Olivia began her dance training at the age of nine at Highlands Center for Ballet Arts and continued dancing there through high school and college. She attended Radford University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a classical concentration. While attending Radford, she studied a wide variety of dance styles under Inessa Plekhanova, Deborah McLaughlin, and Bob Boross. While at Radford, Olivia was selected to perform in a jazz dance showcase at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center in New York City, as well as an Appalachian-based modern work at the College of New Jersey. Olivia continued her education at King University, where she obtained a Masters degree in Elementary Education while also teaching and dancing at Highlands Center for Ballet Arts. She taught first grade at Abingdon Elementary for four years. Currently, Olivia is a dance instructor at Emory and Henry University. Additionally, she has her Masters of the Fine Arts in Choreography from Wilson College. Olivia founded Southern Appalachian Dance Collective in 2023 and has been working hard to provide an inclusive dance experience in Appalachia ever since.
Ballet Master
Will Smith
Will Smith is a multifaceted artist and entrepreneur whose career bridges classical ballet and arboriculture with distinctive flair. A professional ballet dancer for nearly two decades, he has performed with respected companies including Roanoke Ballet Theatre, Manassas Ballet Theatre, and Ballet Theatre of Maryland, bringing powerful artistry to stages across the East Coast. As a choreographer, Will’s works have earned grants and critical attention, including *Poetry in Motion*—a ballet for Deaf audiences featured in *Dance Magazine*—and numerous collaborations with the Taubman Museum and Roanoke City.
Beyond the stage, Will is a dedicated educator, shaping young dancers for over 15 years through institutions such as Little Leapers, Showcase Dance, and the Ballet Theatre of Maryland’s satellite school. His versatility extends to musical theatre with recurring performances at Roanoke’s Attic Theatre.
In a unique professional pivot, Will became a certified arborist in 2020 and now owns and operates The Dancing Lumberjack, a tree care and removal company that harmonizes his passion for nature with his lifelong artistry.
Will currently serves as Ballet Master for the Southern Appalachian Dance Collective, continuing to create original works that captivate audiences and honor the expressive power of dance.
Meet the Collective
