Performance art is is refined and influenced greatly by who our teachers are.

I have had the great fortune to have had the opportunity to study with masters who were great devotees of music and dance.

In the world of Middle Eastern Dance- my first teacher who gave me foundation of folkloric form was Helene of Santa Cruz.

From attending Middle Eastern music and dance camp for the last 10
years, I have been exposed to a long list of wonderful teachers who were
very generous, and spirited. I value them all as teachers and
performers;

Dancers;

Shoshanna of Arcata

Zadiel of /Germany

Miriam Peretz of Berkeley / Israel

Helene’ Erickson of Seattle, WA.

Daila Carella of New York.

Suhaila Salimpor of Berkeley

Jon Compton  of Habbi Ru’

Karim Nagi

Ziva

Music;

Currently, Nicole is learning to play the persian santour under the watchful ear of Hamid Saeidi.

In the world of Indian Dance of bharta natayam ;

My first teacher and true mentor  is  Bonnie Lawlor of Seattle.   It is
from Bonnie, I learned a deep articulate awareness of the earth and how
it relates to a dancer’s body and expression.

My other  Gurus of this sacred form, whom all were students of the Bala T. Saraswati. music and dance lineage are

Shymala Mohanraj, whom I stayed and  studied with during my time in
India. Shymala gave me insights of order for the adavus. She also was a
true artist to witness in expression of abhinaya ( facial expression-
specific  to dance)

Aggie Brenneman ( also a student of the Bala T. Saraswati family tradition)

Has been a huge support. She has been an active teacher  of Bharata Natyam for over a decade in the berkeley.

She helped make the dream of the Bahrata Natayam instructional DVD a reality.

Aggie graciously  continues to train  and guide me in the realm of bahrta Natayam.