Peter B. Schmitz (December 29, 1950 – August 10, 2022) offered his rigorously innovative mind and spirit to the performing arts for over five decades as a choreographer, actor, dancer, and educator. With an MFA from Smith College, Peter profoundly impacted students while serving as Theatre and Dance faculty at Middlebury and Amherst Colleges and in residency at many universities. He taught and performed internationally, inspiring and coaching countless artists along the way. As a professional dancer/choreographer, Peter worked extensively in the US and internationally in Europe, New Zealand, and Turkey. In 1972, he, along with Andrea Olsen and Katherine Sanderson, founded Dance Gallery—a modern dance repertory company—which contributed to the revitalization of Northampton, MA. He was a member of Creach/Co in NYC, toured with Ann Carlson’s doggie hamlet, and performed in works by Yanira Castro/acanarytorsi, Wendy Woodson and Present Co., Tamar Rogoff, Chavasse Dance & Performance, Richard Colton/Amy Spencer, Freedman Coleman Dance, Penny Campbell, and many others. He received the “Best Performance” award in the San Francisco Film/Video Festival for his work in the dance/film, Trout. As a theatre artist, he choreographed/performed with multiple ensembles, including the Medicine Show Theatre, New World Theatre, No Theater, and Potomac Theatre Project.

Peter was a voracious reader and lover of film, painting, theater, poetry — any work that inspired questions and vitality. Whether you engaged with Peter in the classroom, the studio, or on the porch drinking a Miller Lite, you were guaranteed to encounter and be changed by his passion, curiosity, intellect, and incisive wit.

Peter was on the Board of Directors of A.P.E. (Available Potential Enterprises) in Northampton, MA and lived at Bramble Hill Farm in Amherst, MA. Peter is survived by his husband, Joey Trazo Schmitz, older brothers Tim and Bill, a younger brother Bob, and a younger sister Susan. He was preceded in death by his parents Lois and Bill. He loved and was loved by numerous nieces, nephews, and forever friends.

Peter died peacefully at home under the tender care of his husband, Joey Trazo Schmitz. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Creative Coaching Fund through A.P.E.: http://www.apearts.org/support.html. For more about Peter, see: peterbschmitz.squarespace.com

Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com