WE ARE SHAPED BY OUR THOUGHTS.
me.
MONIKA FELICE SMITH is a VMA nominated choreographer, director, creative director & dancer residing in both Los Angeles & New York. Having transitioned to the contemporary & commercial world from classical ballet & pointe, her choreography blends a fusion of technical contemporary & commercial energy. Today, Monika has had the opportunity to choreograph, movement direct & performance coach for artists such as The Rolling Stones, Olivia Rodrigo, FINNEAS, Panic! At The Disco, JLo, Doja Cat, Twenty One Pilots, Fall Out Boy, One Republic, Ben Platt, Alessia Cara, Bella Poarch, Ashe, Bebe Rexha, Sir, DPR Ian, Woosung, Angel Olsen, Lennon Stella, Sub Urban, Leah Kate and more.
Monika’s directing work can be seen in commercials for athletes such as Christian McCaffrey & Tommy Paul for Dymatize Protein Powder. She has directed music videos for artists such as Jai Wolf, Sam Fischer, Bella Poarch (2nd unite), Caamp, Trinity Bliss & Foam Boy. Monika regularly produces and directs monthly dance visuals with her performance company LUME. She has also directed movement visuals for CLI Conservatory, Chapman University & AMDA College of the Performing Arts. As a director, Monika channels her passion for blending camera movement with the dynamic performances of her cast, crafting a compelling narrative from beginning to end.
Monika’s movement work can be seen in feature films such as, Mother’s Instinct w/ Anne Hathaway & Jessica Chastain & TV specials such as Hulu’s Huluween Dragstravaganza. Her work is featured in ads & commercials like Silk’s Super Bowl spot with Jeremy Renner, Fresh Pet w/ Meghan Trainor, Apple, Nike/Jordan, Bose, Lululemon, Gatorade for Les Twins, Fabletics for Kelly Rowland, Vanessa Hudgens & Liza Koshy, Skechers, Liquid Death, Oculus, Spyder Athletics, Oofos, & Flaunt Magazine for Joey King & Maude Apatow… Her work can also be seen on stages for artists tours and stage performances such as the VMA’s for Olivia Rodrigo and CMT’s for Dasha.
Monika’s choreography has been nominated for an MTV VMA for “Best Choreography in a Music Video” for Panic! At The Disco’s Middle of a Breakup. Her work has been awarded the World Choreography Award for “Best Choreography in a Commercial” for Spyder Korea. She was also nominated with the production teams for MTV VMAs for FINNEAS’ Let’s Fall In Love For The Night, Panic! At The Disco’s Viva Las Vengeance & Twenty One Pilots’ Saturday. Monika 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 around the globe. 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.
