Walter Nicks
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Walter Nicks is a Finnish and American (U.S. born) modern dancer and choreographer and a teacher of Jazz dance and Dunham technique.
He received his professional start as the youngest member of the Katherine Dunham Company and later formed the Walter Nicks Dancers.
Among his recent works are: Spirit Blues for the Finnish National Ballet, which premiered on 19th October, 1989 at the Finnish National Opera and Trance Atlantic (2000), a tribute to Africa’s contributions to Black dance
In the 1950s he was associated with several original Broadway musicals. These are, in chronological order:
- My Darlin’ Aida (1952) as a dancer
- House of Flowers (1954) Assistant Choreographer to Herbert Ross (additional choreography by Geoffrey Holder) (Scenic Designer Oliver Messel was 1955's Tony Award® winner.)
- Sing, Man, Sing – A Musical Odyssey (1956) (choreographer) The production starred Harry Belafonte
- Jamaica (1957) Assistant Choreographer to Jack Cole The production featured Alvin Ailey as the lead dancer and producer David Merrick, scenic designer Oliver Smith, and actors Ricardo Montalban, Lena Horne, Ossie Davis and Josephine Premice were all nominated for 1958 Tony Awards.
Mr. Nicks is on the Executive Committee of the International Association of Blacks in Dance and on the Advisory Board of the Black Arts Network Diaspora. He is also a former recipient of The Balasaraswati/Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair for Distinguished Teaching from the American Dance Festival
Walter Nicks is currently an artist in residence at the Church of the Intercession in New York City. Among his sacred works is the passion play choreographed for the church and presented every Palm Sunday by narrators, choir and the Walter Nicks Dancers.