Jason Samuels Smith is a rhythmic icon with accolades as choreographer, performer, and humanitarian. Samuels Smith is the recipient of an Emmy Award, a Dance Magazine Award, an American Choreography Award, the Gregory Hines Humanitarian Award, and an annual day in his honor. Credits include Outkast’s “Idlewild,” “Black Nativity,” Psych, CBS’s Secret Talents of the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with The Stars, Dean Hargrove’s “Tap Heat” (co-star with Arthur Duncan), and Debbie Allen’s “Cool Women.” Stage credits include Broadway’s Bring in Da’Noise, Bring in Da’Funk, Debbie Allen’s Soul Possessed; and Imagine Tap! (lead). His critically acclaimed collaboration spanning more than a decade with a Kathak Master was immortalized in the film Upaj: Improvise. He has appeared as a special guest with Grammy award–winning artists Lalah Hathaway and Jennifer Halladay in an internationally televised documentary on Fred Astaire and was featured in a spread with model Michelle Buswell in RED Magazine (UK).

He utilizes his art form as a vehicle for growth and impactful change. He directed and curated tap programming for over thirty years, including the LA Tap Festival, Tap Family Reunion, and National Museum of Dance. His work has benefitted Dancers Responding to Aids, Tied to Greatness, Career Transitions for Dancers, Groove with Me, and Move The World among others. He designed and developed professional tap shoes and other products with BLOCH. Samuels Smith aims to promote respect for tap dance, creating opportunities for upcoming generations as he continues to travel as an ambassador for tap around the world.