Nicole Harris
According to her students, Nicole Harris is more than just the woman who teaches them how to shuffle and pirouette. Clayton Raithel, one of Nicole’s theatre students, stated that “She has been labeled as a teacher of dance. The thing is, she teaches about life.” Nicole began teaching tap and jazz classes at eighteen years old just a few months after making the difficult decision to drop out of the dance program at Shenandoah University. While searching for the place where she could continue her dance education, she began sharing her love with children. Her classes are technically founded and build strong, healthy dancers. “Nicole strives to give each of her students a solid foundation as well as bring out the individual dancer in each of them,” says LuAnn Pagella, Director of Impulse Dance Center in Natick, MA.
“Nicole tells us all the time that we are people first and dancers second,” remarks Danielle Thibault, “I’ve been in her classes since I was ten years old when I wanted to dance just like her. Six years later I’ve learned to dance just like me.” Teaching solid technique, individual performance and a strong understanding of rhythm in all her classes from jazz to tap to lyrical, Nicole aims to build dancers as well as In addition to what she has to share with her students during class, Nicole is dedicated to bringing dance to the suburbs and has organized multiple master class series to expose dancers from suburban studios to world-renowned dancers and choreographers such as Derick Grant, Josh Bergasse and Dianne Walker.
Throughout this time Nicole was studying with Karen Krolak who quickly became her mentor. When Nicole was nineteen years old Karen presented her with the opportunity to begin dancing professionally. Weighing the options of pushing her way back into the world of a dance degree or beginning her professional career, Nicole chose to perform Karen Krolak’s What’s Next? in Philadelphia in the fall of 2000 and went on to become one of the founding members of MONKEYHOUSE, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting communities to choreography under the direction of Karen Krolak. With Monkeyhouse Nicole presented her own choreography in New York City for the first time at age nineteen, toured the country numerous times performing both her own work and that of other company choreographers, premiered over ten pieces of choreography and worked with an extensive list of students of all ages. In 2009 Nicole was names Community Engagement Coordinator.
In 2002 Nicole created TAProject, a youth tap organization based out of Impulse Dance Center in Natick, MA where she had been teaching since 1999. In looking at the students in her tap classes Nicole found this talented and dedicated group of high school tap dancers and transformed them into the talk of the town. TAProject performs at local events in Natick as well as all over the greater Boston area, including the New England Flower Expo Preview Party and opening for MONKEYHOUSE’s Are You Lucky? in 2006.
Also in 2002, Nicole began working with the Natick High School Drama Department and has choreographed ten shows for them, ranging from Thoroughly Modern Millie to The Secret Garden. Students, faculty and parents have all commented on how this group of children with little to no dance education are not just “step touching” in the background, but that each and every one of them is actually dancing. Tommy Grassey, who has been in six productions once said, “I didn't think I was too fond of trying new things (ex. tango), but you provided the opportunity for me, and agreeing to do it was one of the best choices I have ever made.”
In 2007 Nicole moved to New York City where she studied extensively with Derick K. Grant and Lynn Schwab. While there Nicole was invited to perform at the TAP CITY Main Event in choreography by Lynn Schwab in 2009 & 2010 at Symphony Space; presented work at the Cool New York Dance Festival in 2009 & 2010 and was asked to perform at the 2008 Edmonton Fringe Festival.
“Nicole tells us all the time that we are people first and dancers second,” remarks Danielle Thibault, “I’ve been in her classes since I was ten years old when I wanted to dance just like her. Six years later I’ve learned to dance just like me.” Teaching solid technique, individual performance and a strong understanding of rhythm in all her classes from jazz to tap to lyrical, Nicole aims to build dancers as well as In addition to what she has to share with her students during class, Nicole is dedicated to bringing dance to the suburbs and has organized multiple master class series to expose dancers from suburban studios to world-renowned dancers and choreographers such as Derick Grant, Josh Bergasse and Dianne Walker.
Throughout this time Nicole was studying with Karen Krolak who quickly became her mentor. When Nicole was nineteen years old Karen presented her with the opportunity to begin dancing professionally. Weighing the options of pushing her way back into the world of a dance degree or beginning her professional career, Nicole chose to perform Karen Krolak’s What’s Next? in Philadelphia in the fall of 2000 and went on to become one of the founding members of MONKEYHOUSE, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting communities to choreography under the direction of Karen Krolak. With Monkeyhouse Nicole presented her own choreography in New York City for the first time at age nineteen, toured the country numerous times performing both her own work and that of other company choreographers, premiered over ten pieces of choreography and worked with an extensive list of students of all ages. In 2009 Nicole was names Community Engagement Coordinator.
In 2002 Nicole created TAProject, a youth tap organization based out of Impulse Dance Center in Natick, MA where she had been teaching since 1999. In looking at the students in her tap classes Nicole found this talented and dedicated group of high school tap dancers and transformed them into the talk of the town. TAProject performs at local events in Natick as well as all over the greater Boston area, including the New England Flower Expo Preview Party and opening for MONKEYHOUSE’s Are You Lucky? in 2006.
Also in 2002, Nicole began working with the Natick High School Drama Department and has choreographed ten shows for them, ranging from Thoroughly Modern Millie to The Secret Garden. Students, faculty and parents have all commented on how this group of children with little to no dance education are not just “step touching” in the background, but that each and every one of them is actually dancing. Tommy Grassey, who has been in six productions once said, “I didn't think I was too fond of trying new things (ex. tango), but you provided the opportunity for me, and agreeing to do it was one of the best choices I have ever made.”
In 2007 Nicole moved to New York City where she studied extensively with Derick K. Grant and Lynn Schwab. While there Nicole was invited to perform at the TAP CITY Main Event in choreography by Lynn Schwab in 2009 & 2010 at Symphony Space; presented work at the Cool New York Dance Festival in 2009 & 2010 and was asked to perform at the 2008 Edmonton Fringe Festival.
