Artistic Team
Southern Appalachian Dance Collective, originally known as Olina Dance Collective, was established in 2022 by Olivia Ratliff.
"This performing arts company is a worthy addition to our community. It provides a place for experienced dancers to flourish and form meaningful connections."
-Olivia Ratliff
Artistic Director
Olivia Ratliff
Ratliff began her dance training at the age of nine at Highlands Center for Ballet Arts and continued dancing there through high school and college. She attended Radford University where she graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance with a classical concentration. While attending Radford, she studied a wide variety of dance styles under Inessa Plekhanova, Deborah McLaughlin, and Bob Boross. While at Radford, Olivia was selected to perform in a jazz dance showcase at Manhattan Movement and Arts Center in New York City as well as an Appalachian-based modern work at the College of New Jersey. She has performed many lead roles including Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, and Clara from The Nutcracker “Beauty,” in Beauty and the Beast, and Puck from A Midsummer Nights Dream, to name a few. Olivia continued her education at King University where she obtained a Masters degree in Elementary Education while also teaching and dancing at Highlands Center for Ballet Arts. She taught first grade at Abingdon Elementary for four years. Currently, Olivia is a full-time dance instructor at Southwest Virginia Community College. Additionally, she has her Masters of the Fine Arts in Choreography from Wilson College​​
Resident Choreographer
Will Smith
Originally from Camden, New York, Mr. Smith started dancing under Delia Foley (A.R.A.D.) and completed the Royal Academy of Ballet’s
advanced syllabus with merit. He then attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City on a talent and merit scholarship. Mr. Smith graduated with a B.F.A. in dance, ballet emphasis. Mr. Smith has danced with the Kansas City Ballet School, Montgomery Ballet, Albany Berkshire Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Ballet Theater of Maryland, Manassas Ballet and retired from Roanoke Ballet under Rolando Sarabia in 2023. He has choreographed over 20 Ballets and He was awarded the Virginia Commission of Arts Fellowship for Choreography in 2014 and won Roanoke's year of the Artist in 2023.
Marketing & Communication Director
Cameron Renee Roberts
Roberts began her studies at Ballet Arts Academy and continued through Bristol Ballet until 2021. In 2019, Roberts was awarded the annual Teresangela Memorial Scholarship. Some of her favorite credits with the company include The Wizard of Oz (Wicked Witch), Cinderella (Winter Fairy), Don Quixote ‘Dream Scene’ (Dulcinea), Oklahoma! (Dream Laurey, Ellen), From a Mind (Depression Lead), AMDA Dance Workshop (Dancer), Giselle ‘Willis’ (Demi-Soloist), Bowsprit (Dancer). Cameron studied Dance Theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy Conservatory Program and has danced with Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, South Carolina Dance Conservatory, Radford University, and Southern Appalachian Dance Collective. While with AMDA, Roberts was a part of their marketing/media team and worked on their profiles and outreach. Roberts currently works in the sales department with Barter Theatre and is working towards a Performing Arts Industry Certificate through New York University's Tisch School for the Arts.
Director of Outreach
D'Arcy Morrell
D’Arcy Morrell began her dance training at age four under the instruction of Jo Rosser at Ballet Arts Academy. In 2009 she began training at Highlands Center for Ballet Arts, where she continued dancing all throughout high school. While at Highlands Ballet, Morrell danced several leading roles including Arabian in the Nutcracker and Alice in Alice in Wonderland. Upon graduating high school, she moved to New York City to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she obtained a degree in Advertising Communications in 2021. While living in New York she continued taking regular dance classes at Steps on Broadway. Morrell is a founding member of Southern Appalachian Dance Collective.
Head of Costumes, Education Coordinator
Stephanie Waldron
Stephanie is delighted to be working with Southern Appalachian Dance Collective for their 3rd season! Previously she has designed and altered for Highlands Center for Ballet Arts and the Bristol Ballet Company. Some of her favorite shows she's worked on include 'Alice in Wonderland', 'The Nutcracker', 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', 'Cinderella', 'A Christmas Carol', 'The Wizard of Oz', 'The Magic Butterfly', and more! Waldron is a native of Bristol, VA, and a proud mom to D'Arcy and Erik.
Head of Production
Temmy Roberts
Temmy is excited to be working with Southern Appalachian Dance Collective and their great team! In the past, he has worked on set, props, fly-rail, and more for Theatre Bristol and Bristol Ballet. Some of his favorite shows include 'The Wizard of Oz', 'The Nutcracker', 'ANNIE', 'Fiddler on the Roof', 'Cinderella', 'Beauty and the Beast', 'The Little Mermaid', 'ELF', 'Oklahoma!', 'Alice in Wonderland', and 'Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang'. He is a native of Bristol, TN, and father to Cameron. Enjoy the show!