Michael Nickerson-Rossi, founder of Nickerson-Rossi Dance, and Chad Allan Ortiz, the company’s executive director, have spent more than a decade building a thriving dance community in the Coachella Valley, and their hard work is paying off. Their students have been awarded approximately $500,000 in college scholarships at prestigious programs, including the American Musical and Dramatic Academy — a testament to their training.
Here’s a snapshot of the company’s winter/spring season:
12th Anniversary Show (Jan. 25–26):
Celebrate the company’s journey with a performance featuring their professional artists and a piece by students from their academy. “The anniversary show focuses on all aspects of our nonprofit organization. It’s all the professional artists in the company and then a highlight of the academy,” Nickerson-Rossi explains. “We also do an outreach work.” This year’s outreach will offer a moving performance inspired by the stories of breast cancer patients at Desert Regional Medical Center.
Behind the Curtain (March 12):
Get a look at the creative process. “It’s [about] building the dance culture and [giving] them a deep, intimate perspective on how we work,” Nickerson-Rossi says. “They get to talk to the dancers. They get to listen to the process of why we create.”
International Dance Festival (April 3–6):
Experience dance genres from around the globe, including Indian, Brazilian, and hip-hop. “The festival allows us to share beyond our own knowledge and experiences,” Ortiz says. “We share other cultures, styles, and backgrounds.”
For tickets and additional information, visit nickersonrossidance.com.
