Notes From the Corner

Nicki was 16 when she first played for a ballet class. A local dance school with girls in tunics, chairs to hold in place of a barre, and trips up to London for exams. It fed into an already growing passion for music and dance. The teacher Mrs Barnet was a tour de force of the old school, brilliant and with a passion for music. She passed on priceless knowledge and inspiration, and now 30 years later Nicki is one of the most in-demand dance musicians in the UK.

As a specialist class musician her credits over the years include The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Mark Morris Dance Group, Akram Kahn, Rambert, Michael Clark Company,  Richard Alston Dance Company, all the various Matthew Bourne companies, Carlos Accosta and Friends (London Coliseum), Russian Ballet Icons Gala (Royal Opera House), American Ballet Theatre, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Ballet Black, Northern Ballet, DV8, American In Paris (Dominion Theatre London), Royal Opera (dance auditions), Rambert Orchestra, The Royal Academy Of Dance and English National Opera. She has also worked all of the major London ballet and dance schools. 

Nicki tutors students privately and at The Royal Opera House and they regularly go on to secure positions at top ballet and dance organisations around the world

Amongst all this dance work Nicki has worked in many other areas. For many years she was a regular on the Musical Theatre scene, and credits as Musical Director and keyboard player include Wicked (Apollo Victoria), Billy Elliot (Victoria Palace), Fame (Aldwych Theatre), 42nd Street (National Tour),  7 Brides For 7 Brothers (Haymarket), Jesus Christ Superstar (National Tour), High School Musical (National Tour), Chess (International Anniversary Tour), and Shoes (Sadlers Wells)

Nicki has also been a regular on the jazz, cabaret and open mic scene in London performing regularly at Cafe de Paris, Brasserie Vedel, Cafe Royal (Black Cat Cabaret) and Kettners (Soho).

For 10 years Nicki was pianist and assistant to the singing teacher Ian Adam and had the pleasure of helping prepare many wonderful artists for their performances. These include Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd dir. T.Burton); Alicia Silverstone (Love's Labours Lost dir. K.Branagh); Jeremy Irons (Last night of The Proms); Courtney Love (Later With Jools Holland); Michael Crawford (Las Vegas); Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Man Of La Mancha, Broadway); and Twiggy (Lucille Lortel Theatre NY).

In 2011 Nicki was engaged as Musical Director of Tottenham Community Choir. Twelve years later the choir continues to thrive. With over 80 members the choir has performed at a wide range of venues including The St Pancras Church (London), St George’s Church (Holborn) the Rafael Gallery (V&A Museum), Hackney Empire and the Bernie Grant Theatre, Tottenham. 

Nicki is a passionate advocate of live music in all arenas, and is hugely excited to be able to offer this scarce opportunity to share her experiences in the dance studio with other artists. There are very few collaborative environments where freedom of expression and demand for creativity are more welcome or more appropriate.