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Maple Street Dance Space Instructor: Fletcher Nickerson 514-4121 Contemporary Jazz Ballet Modern Fusion. Nickerson provides his students with the "tools" necessary for pursuing any professional career in the performing arts. He inspires his students to strive for their full potential as dancers, and most importantly, as individuals. He has served as guest artist and master class teacher nationally. He is highly sought after for his ability to inspire individuals, children through adults, to be better than their best. Style Incorporating funk, hip hop and athletics with traditional ballet, jazz and modern styles of dance, Nickerson has established a tremendous track record for working with dancers of all levels from the beginners to professionals, and children to adults. This unique style of dance has been seen in the performances of Touch Dance Ensemble, a young, energetic group of dancers (ages 11-18) and recently in his new dance company, Oxygen Dance Theater. He has created over 12 original jazz ballets for his companies. Fletchers teaching style has received high praise from several prominent teacher/choreographers such as Alonzo King - "Lines San Francisco", Fransciose Martinet - "Jeoffrey Ballet", Lou Conte - "Hubbard Street Dance Chicago" and Gary Flannery - "Chicago" the musical. While in Chicago he was named the one to watch by several convention teachers. He has also been nominated for several choreography awards as well as an Off-Broadway nomination. Performer As a performer, Nickerson has toured the United States and Canada in Broadway musicals which include "Dreamgirls", "Chess", and "A Chorus Line". His electrifying dance moves have been heralded by critics and professionals alike. He has also worked with Ben Vereen, Diana Ross, Andre DeShields, T.C. Carson, Patdro Harris, Kenny Ortega and Debbie Allen. Training Nickerson began his training with Jenny and Darrel Bishop. Susan Snider was a major catalyst for his ballet training and the pursuit of a professional career. He also has trained with several master instructor including Catherine Duhnam, Fransciose Martinet, Robert Severs and a host of others who have made their mark in the past and present. He also received training at the University of Iowa, Gus Giordano, Lou Conte and was a scholarship student at the Dupree Academy of Los Angeles, now the Edge where the L.A. dance scene gets most of its dancers. Among Fletchers recent projects are: Guest instructor at Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Moving People Dance Theater and Charisma. Umoja is an African dance based show created by Nickerson for the Albuquerque Zoo which shared music, poetry and storytelling from Ghana, Lesotho and Mali. Resonance From the Past, an African exhibit at the Albuquerque Museum, was also staged by Nickerson. His most recent guest artist residency was at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While there he co-directed the university dance company while also directing his own small company Oxygen Dance Theater. Fletcher Nickerson has been nominated for and received awards for his choreography for dance companies, works on his own company, Oxygen and Off-Broadway. National television commercials, industrial films and corporate trade shows are three of the many areas he has made his mark. His clients in the corporate world include McDonalds, General Mills, Baskin Robbins, Churchs Chicken, Tyson Foods, Household Finance Corporation, L.A. Gear and Fila. In the hair industry he choreographed and produced for companies like Zotos, Quantum, Bain De Terre, Senscience, Sheenique, Wella, Sally Beauty Company, Daniel Galvin & Iso Sport. He restaged the show Get Dancin on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and was assistant choreographer for over 1,200 performers for the World Cup Opening Ceremonies where he worked with Kenny Ortega, Diana Ross and John Secada. He has also choreographed the musicals Hair, Crowns and Secret Garden. Fletcher has also toured with 7 companies of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. He has danced for River North Dance Company and Gus Giordano. He has taught at Southern Methodist Univ., University of Nevada Las Vegas, University of Iowa, Brigham Young and Colorado State. Fletcher is the creator of Dance Logic, a system developed over the past 17 years that produces dramatic results. Designed to help train todays dancer. Dance Logic is a jazz based technique that uniquely incorporates ballet and modern. Thus a technique that flows, applies and connects to virtually every other dance discipline. Outreach: Fletcher has created and or directed outreach programs for the City of Las Vegas, Nevada, Hubbard Street and the Chicago Childrens Museum. His young ensemble performed in high risk schools in Chicago, bringing contemporary dance to underprivileged children. Lou Conte was so inspired by the young group during rehearsal and brought his entire company in from ballet class to view them. Thus the birth of Hubbard Street II.
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