Claudia De Smet was born in Antwerp, Belgium. She studied and graduated at the Provincial Institute of Dance and continued her higher education at the Higher Institute for Dance and Dancepedagogy.
De Smet started her professional career as a dancer with various companies in Europe. Her main engagement was as a fulltime dancer at Ballet Preljocaj being actively part of most creations of Angelin Preljocaj and dancing all main roles in his repertory. For her role as the Angel in Angelin Preljocaj´s Annonciation, she received a Bessie Award in New York in 1997. After a successful career as a dancer with Ballet Preljocaj, De Smet continued her career as a rehearsal director, assisting Preljocaj with new creations ; she was responsible for the artistic development of the company dancers and the preparation of the creations going on tour.
Since 2011, she works as a freelance rehearsal director for Preljocaj and other choreographers. De Smet´s work is appreciated by international renowned dance companies and professional dance schools ; as a result, she has received invitations as a guest teacher for coaching and workshops.
