Where Movement Becomes Story
SMP DANCE COMPANY IS A HOME FOR EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT TRAINING AND FUTURE-FORWARD PERFORMANCE.
CURRENTLY OFFERING TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION FOR DANCERS â AND BUILDING TOWARD TOURING NEW ORIGINAL WORK.
Acting for Dancers: Theatre Lab is a two-day immersive workshop in Santa Barbara (Oct 11â12, 2025) designed for pre-professional and professional dancers ready to deepen their artistry. Limited to just 15 participants, the Lab blends studio training with theatre-based exploration, guiding dancers to unlock storytelling, emotional intelligence, and authentic presence in performance.
WELCOME TO SMP DANCE COMPANY
SMP Dance Company is a growing creative home for dancers who want to move with meaning.
Founded by Sarah Marie Picard, SMP is rooted in the belief that presence, emotional intelligence, and story are just as essential as physical technique. Through intentional training and artistic exploration, the company offers dancers tools to expand their expressive rangeâonstage and in life.
We are currently focused on educational offerings, including the signature workshop Acting for Dancers, while building toward a long-term vision of original touring work, collaborative residencies, and emotionally charged performance projects.
This is a space for dancers, artists, and educators called toward something deeper. A future-forward company with soul at its center.
ACTING FOR DANCERS
A space to build emotional clarity, storytelling tools, and embodied confidenceâon and off stage.
This workshop helps dancers connect deeply to their movement, trust their inner life, and perform with honesty and impact.
Ideal for studios, pre-professional programs, and working artists seeking emotionally intelligent, story-driven training with more depth, clarity, and range.
Led by artistic director, Ms. Sarah Marie Picard.
Led by Director of Dance, Ms. Sarah Marie Picard. As a dancer and choreographer, Sarah Marie has been featured on numerous hit shows, including ABCâs âOnce Upon A Timeâ and Foxâs âSo You Think You Can Dance.â She has extensively toured internationally with various leading dance companies. She is regularly requested to appear as a guest choreographer at world-renowned dance institutions such as STEPS and the Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Previous students of Ms. Picardâs have been accepted into iconic educational institutions such as The Juilliard School, NYU, Arts Umbrella, Rambert School, and USC and have gone on to work extensively in film and television, on Broadway, and in theatres around the world.
Train with Sarah
Brian friedman
âI had the honor of being a mentor to Sarah Marie in her formative years. Her talent was undeniable and her work ethic matched it. I was not surprised as I watched her succeed after the years of her assisting me. Following her career has been such a joy!â
Follow our journey.
