Linda C. Smith. Photo by Simon Blundell.
Linda C. Smith, founder and Executive/Artistic Director of Repertory Dance Theatre (RDT), has been selected to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Utah. The university’s Board of Trustees recently announced that Smith, alongside I. King Jordan, Julie A. Lassonde, and Cecil O. Samuelson Jr., will be honored at the General Commencement ceremony on May 1, 2025, at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
“Honorary degrees are a recognition of exceptional human beings who have transformed the world in ways large and small,” said University of Utah President Taylor Randall. “We are so fortunate to have exceptional leaders who… have changed individual lives, bolstered education and advanced culture.”
Smith began her dance career at the age of four with Virginia Tanner’s Children’s Dance Theatre and became a founding member of RDT in 1966. Over the decades, she has shaped the company into a cornerstone of Utah’s arts scene. Under her leadership, RDT has preserved modern dance history and expanded arts education through outreach programs that have reached over 2,000 schools.
Smith’s achievements also include her role in developing the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center and establishing the RDT Community School. She has championed interdisciplinary collaborations addressing social issues, environmental awareness, and cultural diversity.
“This year’s honorary degree recipients personify selfless service in higher education, passionate advocacy, life-changing innovations and artistic creativity,” said Jamie Sorenson, chair of the Board of Trustees Honors Committee.
Smith’s lasting impact on Utah’s cultural landscape is widely celebrated, and RDT recognizes this honor as a fitting tribute to her remarkable career.
UTAH’S ART MAGAZINE SINCE 2001, 15 Bytes is published by Artists of Utah, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Categories: Recognized
