Meet Jamie Nichols of Celebrate Dance in Glendale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Nichols.

Jamie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a third generation Californian and for twenty-three years the Artistic Director and founder of the Pasadena based contemporary dance company FAST FEET. Until retiring my dance company 2003, self-produced my work in festivals and venues throughout California during the company’s tenure.

I have enjoyed a career as a dancer crossing over commercial dance, choreographing art films, music videos and appearing as a dancer in several films. It was great fun performing with my dance company in four Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parades on floats I was commissioned to choreograph winning the Governor’s Trophy for the first float ever created with 12 ballroom dancers on a giant player piano in 1989. Clients for dancing floats included: First Interstate Bank, The Ritz Carlton Hotel, Rotary International and Delta Airlines.

Having served on multiple non-profit boards, committees, panels for grants, mentoring dance companies, an adjudicator for competitions, publicist for dance companies and producing a variety of dance events in Los Angeles, there’s a deep connection in my heart to the Los Angeles dance community.

One of my most treasured moments as a producer was The 16th Annual Lester Horton Dance Awards at the Alex Theatre. It was a wonderful celebration honoring 25 greater Los Angeles area dance companies with 25 years of more of dedicated service as professional dance companies. It was also a night of new faces in our community, many of whom are now the mainstay of professional dance in LA. I introduced: Los Angeles Ballet, Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company, The Colburn School, Jacob “Kujo” Lyons, Method Contemporary Dance and Contra-Tiempo to name a few.

I’m honored to be a recipient of 6 “Lester Horton Dance Awards for Outstanding Achievement”, The Lester Horton “Furthering the Visibility of Dance Award” and the Dance Resource Center of Los Angeles “Meritorious Award for Outstanding & Extensive Years of Service”.

Working as a social activist in my community of Pasadena, I created three site-specific performance pieces benefiting the Pasadena AIDS Service Center; continue to support other dancers, choreographers, and companies in Los Angeles and believe artists benefit profoundly from volunteering services to their communities. Giving back is essential.

I have taught dance in the Los Angeles area since 1980 and currently teach theatre movement and dance for actors at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Hollywood, CA. and contemporary dance at LALA/Live Arts Los Angeles.

Has it been a smooth road?
It is always a struggle to work in the dance world. It is highly competitive, stressful on your body and sometimes your mind! But honestly, the rewards far outweigh the negativity. I have been fortunate to keep re-inventing my path. The goal is to never quit, never give up, keep pushing and creating. I’m always telling my students at The American Academy Of Dramatic Arts; “imagine a wall and you must decide if you are going to just stand in front of the wall, not continue your journey OR use very once of your physical and mental energy to climb the wall. Even if you’re hanging on by your fingernails DO NOT LET GO! The rewards are brilliant when you are able to get over it! Never give up. Believe your dreams. They are real.”

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
In 2006, there was need for a high calibre professional venue for concert dance in Los Angeles so I dove in and created my “dream” CELEBRATE DANCE. As Executive Producer of CELEBRATE DANCE, presented 70 dance companies at the historic Alex Theatre to critical acclaim. “She’s not quite Google, but producer Jamie Nichols certainly is a one-woman search engine for anyone who wants to know about the L.A. dance scene…” Ann Haskins – LA Weekly.

With the help of an awesome team: Eileen Cooley/Production Manager, Tim Agler/ Photographer, Tim Sutton/Videographer (RIP), Elissa Glickman CEO of the Alex Theatre/Glendale Arts, volunteers and ALL of the crew and staff of the Alex, we were a perfect machine. Trust me, when you find a good team keep them close to your heart! Be kind, always be gracious, pay people on time and NEVER FORGET to say THANK YOU.

CELEBRATE DANCE is a dance festival presenting professional dance companies representing diversity through dance. The event is an accessible family-friendly evening of dance, but still cutting edge. It has been the platform for many of the most successful companies in the greater LA area. A “spring board” if you will.

I was the curator, marketing director, fundraiser, press contact and sole producer of the event. There was a need for a dance educational program for underserved youth and I created “Bringing Professional Dance Into The Classroom” coexisting with CELEBRATE DANCE to give underserved middle school students the opportunity to attend master classes and the show at the Alex Theatre for free.

Since 2016 I have the privilege of being the curator of the Brand Associates Dance Series at the Brand Library and Art Center in Glendale. My mission is to bring diversity through dance to the Brand for free to the public and encourage the greater Los Angeles community to visit the historic library. I would like to shout out to the Brand Associates for their support of dance and the Caley Cannon/Senior Library, Arts & Culture Supervisor and Erin Herzog/Art Librarian for their trust and belief in my vision of the dance series.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes! It is highly competitive but if you have a dream and the energy to pursue your endeavors, DO IT!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.celebratedance.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebrateDance
• Other: https://www.facebook.com/brandassociates/

Image Credit:
Tim Agler, Gail Howland

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.