Bringing the arts to the North State.

Julie Smyrnos began dancing at the age of four after being inspired by a performance of The Nutcracker in Grass Valley, California. She went on to perform many roles in that ballet over the next eleven years. In her teens she attended the Sierra Dance Institute studying with Myrna Galle-Van Buren, a former dancer of the famed Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She was also a member of Nevada Union’s Advanced Dance program directed by Yelena Holt.

Julie went on to attend Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, majoring in Aerospace Engineering with a minor in Dance. She was a founding member of the swing dance troupe, Anything Goes. Anything Goes performed in San Luis Obispo as well as throughout California, including Santa Cruz’s First Night celebration and as guest artists with Cal Poly’s dance company, Orchesis.

In 2003, Julie relocated to Redding and continued to train and perform in local productions. In 2012, she began choreographing for Redding City Ballet’s The Nutcracker and progressed to serving as the Assistant Artistic Director. Julie continues to further her ballet teacher training with Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Teaching Seminars, as well as attending open classes while travelling to Ballet West, PNB and Paris, France.

Julie recognized the need for professional ballet costuming and in 2018 began attending webinars with the late costume designer Travis Halsey as well as in-person training to develop the skills necessary to create beautiful, quality wardrobes for RCB productions. Her skills progressed from simple romantic tutus to elaborate pancake tutus and men’s costuming. In 2021, she was a featured fashion designer for the Redding Fashion Alliance’s annual fashion show, creating three looks to be included in a professionally produced runway show. She has shown tutus in the 2023 Go Red for Women show as well at the Shasta County Arts Council’s juried “Costumes, Wigs and Hats”.