Submitted photo: Samantha Smith, a Fort Dodge Senior High graduate and Iowa State dance team member, is hosting "D1 Dance Camps" on Monday for students entering grades 1-12 at the Pavillion in Fort Dodge.

Samantha Smith is ready to give back to the community that helped raise her.

The 2025 Fort Dodge Senior High and Iowa Central Community College graduate is hosting “D1 Dance Camps” on Monday at the Pavillion for students entering grades 1-12.

Smith, a sophomore-to-be on the Iowa State University dance squad, will be an instructional coach and the event’s main organizer. She will be joined by current or former Division I dance team members from ISU, Nebraska and UNLV.

“I’ve always been incredibly passionate about (supporting) a younger generation of dancers — specifically in Fort Dodge,” said Smith, a three-time Top-5 finisher at the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Championships as a Dodger prep. “I built such special relationships with the younger kids in high school, and have loved every second of being someone they can look up to.

“Growing up in Fort Dodge, I experienced first-hand that dancers in smaller communities like ours don’t have access to the same training opportunities, specialized instruction, and exposure that are available in larger cities. I wanted to help bridge that gap by bringing high-level dance education directly to our community.”

Smith is excited to bring Shae Ozols, Zach Hickenthier and Delaney Felz to town as co-coaches for the camp, which runs from 9 a.m. until noon for students entering grades 1-6 and 1-4 p.m. for grades 7-12.

“One of the things that makes this so special is the staff,” Smith said. “I’m incredibly fortunate to work alongside such talented instructors who I also consider close friends. Their accomplishments at the collegiate and high school levels speak for themselves, but they also share the same passion for mentoring younger dancers and helping them reach their full potential.”

The camp will focus on teaching students better technique, improved fundamentals and new choreography. Smith has a bigger picture in mind for the young participants, though.

“I hope that dancers leave with a new confidence in themselves,” Smith said. “I’ve learned over the years that dance is not just about winning titles – it’s about learning to work hard and push through challenges, and becoming a little better each day.

“I hope dancers feel encouraged to step outside of their comfort zone and realize they’re way more capable than they think. All of the camp instructors have been in their shoes, and we hope to show them that dedication, consistency, and positivity will prepare them to reach any goals they set out to achieve.”

Being away from Fort Dodge this past year gave Smith a different perspective of appreciation for her hometown.

“The community has always been so supportive of my dance career, so after having some time away, I realized how much I wanted to give back. That was a huge part of the motivation behind creating this camp.

“Fort Dodge has always been a close-knit community where people genuinely support one another. I’ve experienced that throughout my dance journey, and this is my way of (returning the favor). I hope it not only helps dancers grow technically, but also inspires them to believe in themselves, and realize what’s possible with commitment, quality training, and a supportive community.”

The registration fee for D1 Dance Camps is $65 per person. For more information or to sign up, visit https://d1dancecamps.com/.