Erika Schmidt is a visual and performing artist. Schmidt received her MFA in Art and Performance from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. where she founded Vital Spark Performance Group, a collaborative interdisciplinary ensemble that has traveled to major U.S. cities and throughout Europe. Schmidt has been a guest artist at the Honghua School in Guangham, China , Anderson House: Harvard Club in Wash. D.C., San Francisco Conservatory of Music, University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, Elon University, Elon, N.C. and a commissioned artist for the Southern Graphics Council Conference, GraphicStudio, at University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. Among the numerous awards she has received acknowledging her unique approach to live art theater are accolades at international dance festivals in Prague,Czech Republic (1999); Cecena, Italy (2001); and Barcelona, Spain (2006). Erika relocated to Vermont in 2008 and has been active in the dance community as performer, teacher and choreographer. She has been choreographer for numerous musicals for regional theater companies and academic theater departments. Schmidt served as Artistic Director for Stone Valley Arts in Poultney from 2016-2022.