Bobbi Jene Smith is an American dancer, choreographer, and actress. She is renowned for her intensely physical and emotionally raw performances, often blurring the lines between dance, theater, and performance art. Smith’s career is distinguished by her commitment to exploring vulnerability and pushing the boundaries of contemporary dance.
Smith received her formal dance training at the North Carolina School of the Arts and later at the Juilliard School in New York City. Her early career involved working with various dance companies, honing her technical skills and developing her unique artistic voice.
Smith is best known for her long-term association with the Batsheva Dance Company in Israel, where she was a member for nearly a decade under the artistic direction of Ohad Naharin. During her time with Batsheva, she performed in numerous critically acclaimed works, gaining international recognition for her powerful stage presence and expressive movement vocabulary. She has also collaborated with numerous independent choreographers and artists, creating and performing original works that have been presented at prestigious venues worldwide.
Beyond her work in dance, Smith has ventured into acting, most notably in the documentary film Bobbi Jene (2016), directed by Elvira Lind. The film follows Smith’s personal and professional life as she leaves Batsheva to return to the United States and pursue independent projects. The film garnered significant acclaim, winning several awards, including the Best Documentary Feature award at the Tribeca Film Festival.
More recently, she starred in and co-choreographed the dance film Broken Bird (2020). She also appeared in Mari (2018). Smith continues to create and perform her own works, often exploring themes of identity, sexuality, and the human condition. She frequently teaches workshops and master classes, sharing her artistic approach and inspiring the next generation of dancers and performers.