Kimberly Smith André’s choreographer

Interview with Kimberly Smith. From Linda magazine, December 30th 2023, by Daphne Keislair. Photos by Marcel van Hoorn. Translated by Ineke, edited by Diana D. Le Kimberly works as a choreographer for André Rieu: 'Touring with him was so fantastic' Kimberly has been dancing all her life, it was instilled in her from an early age. But when violinist and conductor André Rieu asks her to choreograph his concerts at the Vrijthof, that is the icing on the cake. Kimberly Smith (41) tells LINDA about her dance career and what it is like to work with the “The King of the Waltz”. Dance career Kimberly grows up with music and dance. “My parents had a dance school in Maastricht. I could always be found there. I started there as an amateur, but eventually I went through life as a professional dancer.” Her specialty is ballroom dancing and together with her dance partner she travels all over the world, from Japan to Korea and Australia, to represent the Netherlands. As a result, she always lives somewhere else. She even became Dutch Champion twice and is in the top 24 of the world's best. Kimberly together with her professional dance partner David Semken. But when her dance partner quits, Kimberly has to look for a new dance partner. “I didn't feel like doing that anymore. I didn't want to move anymore, I wanted to settle down.” She decides to stay in the Netherlands and that soon leads to a new challenge. She is asked for the well-known television program “Dancing with the Stars”. There she guides both Dutch and Belgian celebrities in their dance adventure. “That was fantastic,” she says. André Rieu In 2016, Kimberly received a call from André Rieu. “He had approached my father, who was known as a dance school owner in the dance scene of Maastricht. They knew each other well and André had an idea, for which he was looking for someone. Of course, my father knew the solution. He said: 'You need Kim for that'." Kimberly is then called, asking if she can arrange many dance couples. “He wanted a lot of dancers for his annual concert series at the Vrijthof in Maastricht. First 75 pairs, but a little later he called again. Now he wanted 100. A few days later again: 'Can you also arrange 150?' Then he had to stop. But I did it. Fortunately, everyone was very enthusiastic and we now have an extensive file of contacts who we can approach to dance along during his concerts.” Happiness at work And what is it like to work with such a great person? Kimberly enjoys it immensely, she says: “André is a real perfectionist, with a sharp eye for detail. He walks by and says casually: 'That dress is too short, and I still need to get it done.' I actually appreciate that. He approaches everything with humor and doesn't beat around the bush.” In addition, André regularly expresses his appreciation. “During the concert, he sometimes takes me aside to say how much he enjoys working together. What you see on television is exactly how he is in real life. He never pretends to be anything else.”