Nasha Thomas-Schmitt (National Director of AileyCamp/Spokesperson & Master Teacher for Arts In Education) oversees national outreach and AileyCamps for Ailey’s Arts in Education & Community Programs department. As a primary liaison between Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation and the national arts-in-education community, she plays a central role in working with local communities to develop and run AileyCamps across the U.S., as well as managing national residencies, workshops, and master classes. Working closely with the program director and associate director, Ms. Thomas-Schmitt also establishes and implements partnerships and dance education residencies with schools and organizations in the New York metro area. A former principal dancer with the Ailey company (1986 to 1998) and former director of the Ailey Dancers Resource Fund, she is a 1980 recipient of the prestigious Presidential Scholar of the Arts award. Ms. Thomas-Schmitt is a graduate of New York’s High School of the Performing Arts and Southern Methodist University.