Simply Smiddy - The Idaho Convert

Way back in my diaper days I spent a majority of my time blasting the radio and dancing along to what I thought was the beat. My family  didn't  have much living in a small trailer, but we had enough for a young girl to use her imagination and think about what her passion would eventually be. Taking dance classes was not an option when I was young, my mom worked as a cosmetologist at Wal-Mart and my dad worked as a delivery guy for Fed-Ex, but I learned some moves from the TV. Every time Dancing with the Stars came on I would try to dance along with the people on the show and learn to do what they were doing.  Dancing was something I was born to love and do. It  wasn't  until five years after my mom moved away from my dad that I was actually put into a dance studio. The day I walked into the studio I remember the overwhelming joy I felt, I knew that dancing was where I belonged. I didn’t exactly know at the time why I had the love I did for danc...

As many of you know I made the spontaneous decision to change some major things in my life the summer of senior year and especially a week before senior year started. WHAT and WHY? First, I changed from the AMAZING Diva Dance Company in Blackfoot to the AMAZING Dance Factory in Pocatello. This had nothing to do with which studio was better or which teacher was more qualified, but it had everything to do with just taking an opportunity to spend more time dancing. Let me explain slightly what I mean; The Dance Factory has the option to hold six classes at a time in their studio because of the way it is built so basically I have the opportunity and I am taking the opportunity to dance at least 5 hours a night, sometimes more, at least four times a week. I also have the opportunity to travel to bigger conventions that Diva Dance didn't travel too. Growing up at Diva Dance was one of the best things I could have ever asked for and without Wendy Schild I would not have the love and t...

This year at Open Dance Nationals I was honored to choreograph a duet with Gabe Wistisen. Many ask when Gabe started dancing.... A month before nationals. Why? Well... I called him and asked if he would do a duet with me and he said, "um.. sure" and I said, "good cause I already paid for it!" haha. Gabe worked really really hard for a month to learn not only the new choreography, but the basics as well. Gabe has taken tap classes, but other than that he was not informed of the technique needed to pull of a contemporary dance. Gabe has also been in many plays so I knew that he would be a good option as a duet partner because he would perform with his face. We were really nervous to compete at Open Dance Nationals because we were entered in the Advanced Contemporary division for age 17. We were honored to not only take first, receiving high gold and king/queen, but we also were honored to make the National All-American Team! Which only the top fifteen dancers are...

A view from the top of the stadium! Yes I performed in front of that HUGE crowd. One Step Closer to achieving my biggest dreams! I have been blessed with so many amazing opportunities in my dance career and performing at the Jazz vs. Lakers game beats them all. I was incredibly blessed to perform at Energy Solutions on April 14th, 2014. It was the Utah Jazz's last game and it was against my all time favorite Los Angelous Lakers! It was very tempting to wear my Lakers jersey, but i decided since I was performing with the Utah Jazz Dancers I should probably represent them.  Being in the stadium, on the floor, with the Jazz players is an experience I will never forget. I was standing within inches of some of the greatest basketball players. As they warmed up and we marked formations I was able to talk to some of them. They would pass the ball back and forth barely missing an arm or leg or your face! It was really funny because as they passed the ball back and forth they would t...

Because of Him death has no sting. I will be with my missed loved ones again. I have the amazing opportunity to be married in the most beautiful places on earth, the temples, and I can have an eternal marriage. I can be with my family forever through a simple sealing. I can be forgiven every day and every day i wake up and live a whole new day. I  can feel peace through all the craziness in the world around me. Because of Him I am able to see blessings through my hardest trials. We will see stand again with Heavenly Father and Christ. Because of Him I have strength and confidence in ALL I do. I never feel alone, not even on my darkest day. Because of Him this life became more than a pass or fail test. We are not perfect and Christ suffered for our sins. Because of Him we can return to our Fathers loving arms. Because of him the unthinkable, the impossible, the unfathomable, and the unpredictable is possible. He is our greatest example, leader, and brother. I'm more than gratefu...

This past weekend I had the opportunity to participate in Distinguished Young Women. There were 27 contestants and it was a tough competition. The girls were incredible and we created a bond I will never forget. Each girl was blessed with her own talent and confident that just glowed onstage. I walked into the competition knowing I wouldn't win because my scholastic score would not be within the top five. But I was blessed enough to win first in talent and first in fitness. Getting a total of $900 in scholarships. It was amazing to show my school and community my dancing abilities and my confidence onstage. Honestly it was a thrill to be onstage. Many ask if I'm disappointed in not winning... I don't hesitate to say no I'm not disappointed.. I am proud of myself and my accomplishments but I am even more proud to have the best representative to go compete in state. Not only do I have scholarship money but I have 26 new friendships I didn't have before. This is a ge...

 I've grown up in an unstable family that I love so dearly. My mom has had two divorces, my dad's side of the family are constantly getting arrested and in and out of jail. My dad has six kids and there are three mothers. He has no contact with any, one in which passed away. I never grew up around my dad. He didn't really want me around when I was young, but we have made contact lately. My step dad was a wonderful wonderful dad and he raised me well but after there divorce this past year he has wanted nothing to do with me. So none of my previous family were religious and if they were they were Christian, but I don't know any members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints..(other than my sister and I)..I had no immediate family to be a worthy example for me, but I did have friends. Back in sixth grade my mom had a friend who had a daughter my age. We were best friends. They were a very inactive family but they still had pictures of Christ and temples around ...