Conservatory Leadership

NICOLE BERGER

NICOLE BERGER

Director, Commercial Dance Conservatory

nicole.berger@ocsarts.net

Ms. Nicole Berger, an award-winning director for film and stage, started her career as a dancer in major motion pictures, independent films, primetime television shows, and renowned stage productions. In 2006, while on set as a principal dancer in Julie Taymor’s Across the Universe, she was mentored by acclaimed Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel. Since then, she has served as choreographer for many television networks, creating scenes for shows The Good PlaceBrooklyn Nine-NineParks and RecreationDeadwood: The Movie, and Veep, among others. She produced and directed the award-winning short film HOLES, featuring music by The Police, Foxy Brown, and Adam Green.

As a graduate of the NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Ms. Berger quickly started her career as a soloist and assistant choreographer with Mark Dendy Dance and Theatre, where she had the opportunity to choreograph for the Radio City Rockettes. She was also a company member of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet in New York City and currently serves as the artistic director of COMPANY RHOME, a Los Angeles-based contemporary ballet theatre company. As an educator, Ms. Berger has taught at the collegiate level since 2010 and has toured the nation giving master classes to high school and college students. She received an Inspiring Brilliance Award from Disney Performing Arts for her innovative, creative, and transformative work with her students.

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Advisory Board

Andy Vaca

Andy Vaca

Dance Chair

California State University, Long Beach

   

Jenny Backhaus

Jenny Backhaus

Founder & Artistic Director, Backhausdance

Dance Instructor, College of Performing Arts

Chapman University