Barbara, Bozena Banasikowski Smith
Dancer, choreographer, executive
Born Sept. 18, 1948, Malmo, Sweden; came to U.S., 1949; daughter Edmund and Zofia (Brzozowska); married Leon Smith; child: Gregory.
Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.), 1972, teacher's certificate, 1974, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee; Master of Arts (M.A.), University of Illinois - Champaign, 1976.
Career: professional performer, Milwaukee Ballet Co., 1969-73; adjunct prof., University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, 1973-75; dance faculty member, director, choreographer, Repertory Dance Company, Michigan State University, East Lansing, 1976-84; artistic director, Children's Ballet Theater, choreographer, Nutcracker Ballet, Wharton Center, Michigan State University, 1986-89; director, Academy of Dance, 1984 -, artistic director, Academic Ballet Theater, 1989 -, Lansing (MI).
Author: soloist dancer, Concerto Grosso choreographed by Jose Limon, Milwaukee, 1974; choreographer, 15 choreographic works. Michigan State University, 1977-84; ballet choreographer, Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe, 1981, Stalaktos-Stalagmos, 1984, Seasons of Fantasy (based on Polish folklore), An Evening with Petipa, 1992-93.
Member of: dancer, Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, 1951-66; active member of Polish Scouting in America - Z.H.P., 1960-66; treasurer, chairman, Michigan Dance Association, Lansing, 1976-84; choreographer, Polish National Alliance (P.N.A.) Michigan Jamboree, Women's Division, Orchard Lake,1989-91; board directors member, secretary, Michigan Youth Arts Festival, Westeern Michigan University, Kalamazoo, 1988-92; active member, Polish National Alliance (P.N.A.) Lodge 1360 (president, 1985-93, founder, choreographer, Piast Dancers, 1983-86), Lansing; American Dance Guild.
Honors: Arion Award, St. Mary's Acad.emy, 1966, Achievement Award, Polish Millennium Committee, 1975, Milwaukee; scholarship, Polish Veterans of WW II - Stowarzyszenie Polskich Kombatantow (S.P.K.), 1975; Michigan Dance Teacher of the Year, Michigan Dance Association, 1990; Distinguished Award, 1986, Sweetheart Award, 1989, Polish National Alliance (P.N.A.); grant, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, 1992; Certificate of Merit, John Engler, Governor of Michigan, 1993; listed in Who's Who of Polish People.
Served with: Roman Catholic.
Languages: English, Polish.
Home: 13001 Shadybrook Ln., Dewitt, MI 48820
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation, New York, NY, 1996