Hi There!I’m Nicole, and I’m so glad you’re here!
If you landed on this page looking for shiny, picture-perfect, dance life highlights, you won’t find that here. Instead, you deserve to know the real story– the one that has shaped not only who I am, but the depth of experience I bring as your coach.
Through every challenge I’ve faced on my dance journey, I’ve uncovered a hidden lesson. By taking the time to alchemize my struggles, I’ve transformed them into gold—riches of real-world experience that now inform me as I inspire and guide aspiring dancers (like you!) on your own paths.
In other words… I’ve learned the lessons, so you don’t have to!
Like many dancers, I fell in love with movement from the moment I heard music. Dance was my passion, my purpose, and my dream. But the path from humble beginnings to a 10+ year NYC dance career with a top-tier modern dance company was anything but easy.
Let me outline for you not only my journey, but what every lesson taught me...
But first,Let’s have some fun!
Ted Lasso
FAVORITE SHOW
Mint Tea
FAVORITE DRINK
The Alchemist
FAVORITE BOOK
Spain
FAVORITE VACATION SPOT
Dance History
FAVORITE GEEK OUT TOPIC
Mornings (of possibility)
FAVORITE TIME OF DAY
I’ll Take it From the Top!Childhood - Struggles and Early Resilience
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Childhood - Struggles and Early Resilience *
Growing up with a single mom and limited resources, I learned early on that pursuing my passion for dance required resilience and determination. Dance wasn’t handed to me—it came with hard work. Every class, every costume, every convention was something I knew we had sacrificed for.
What This Taught Me: The value of perseverance and resourcefulness. I understand what it means to work for your dreams, and I know how to use that same drive to support you as your coach. I help dancers navigate their own challenges with strength and confidence.
Teen Years - Body Talk, Diets, Rejection
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Teen Years - Body Talk, Diets, Rejection *
Even as I rose to the top of my dance classes, I faced constant feedback about my body. Teachers told me I didn’t ‘fit the mold’, and I was denied opportunities to attend prestigious dance programs because of my shape. To try to make my body ‘right for dance’, I turned to every fad diet and restrictive plan I could find, desperate to achieve the 'perfect' dance body. But none of it worked long-term.
What This Taught Me: This cycle of dieting, restriction, and failure damaged my self-worth and my metabolism! Ultimately, I learned that true health doesn’t come in any particular shape. It’s about nourishing your body in a way that supports your unique needs for the demands of your dance life. That’s why I help dancers fuel themselves authentically, focusing on strength, energy, and yes, even joy—not perfection.
6th grade
9th grade
10th grade
From the Second Verse...College - Balancing Passion with Survival
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College - Balancing Passion with Survival *
Determined to pursue my dream, I worked overtime waiting tables to pay rent while earning my BFA in Modern Dance. While all my friends were having fun, for me it was a constant balancing act—studying, training, and working late nights to support myself, all while managing to graduate with honors.
What This Taught Me: I know what it means to have to hustle, but I’ve also learned that a fulfilling dance life isn’t about running yourself into the ground. It’s about creating a sustainable career where your passion thrives without compromising your health or well-being. My coaching helps dancers build wellness practices that fuel their artistry while safeguarding their energy and well-being—for a career that lasts.
Freelance Life - Rejection and Resilience
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Freelance Life - Rejection and Resilience *
After graduating, I entered the freelance world, facing endless auditions and almost just as many rejections. My self-esteem was suffering. I worked multiple jobs, teaching dance and waiting tables, until finally, a few years in, I landed my dream job as a dancer with the Mark Morris Dance Group.
What This Taught Me: Rejection doesn’t define you—it refines you. With every ‘no’, your path gets clearer toward your ‘yes’. I help dancers play the long game, not the quick-fix. We do this by developing a mindset of resilience, with tools like EFT tapping, visualization, and journaling to overcome setbacks and stay focused toward their dance dreams.
2013- Choreography Janelle Barry
2010- Choreography Zane Booker- PC: Bill Herbert
2013- Choreography Nicole Sabella
From the last 8 count!Professional Dance Career - The Joys and Challenges of Success
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Professional Dance Career - The Joys and Challenges of Success *
My decade with MMDG was both thrilling and challenging. I toured the world, performing the works of a choreographic living legend, but the pressure to constantly deliver took its toll on me. I battled injuries, comparison, self-doubt, and as I stepped away in 2024, a chronic illness. It wasn’t easy, but I’ve since healed from each and every one of those battles.
What This Taught Me: Success isn’t about reaching some ideal in the short term—it’s about being able to sustain it. Too often in the dance world, the demands are high, yet the support is minimal. That’s why The Nourished Dancer aims to be the inner support that most dancers need, so they can cultivate the wellness practices that fuel not just their performance, but their long-term health and joy for dance.
2013- L'Allegro choreography by Mark Morris- PC: NY Times
2015- The Hard Nut choreography by Mark Morris - PC: Julieta Cervantes
2017- Layla and Majnun choreography by Mark Morris- PC: Foteini Christofilopoulou
A Turning Point - The Birth of The Nourished Dancer
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A Turning Point - The Birth of The Nourished Dancer *
Every struggle I’ve faced, I’ve overcome not by relying solely on external forces, but by embracing holistic wellness, from the inside out. The unbreakable mindset and powerful practices that I’ve adopted have not only transformed my dancing, but also my coaching, and my life!
In 2018, I earned my first coaching certification as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. And after coaching people from all walks of life, I realized my passion was helping dancers to realize their full potential. In 2020, I founded The Nourished Dancer. I’ve since become a multi-passionate, multi-certified coach in order to not just have real-world experience, but the credentials too.
When I’m not coaching, you can find me at home in Brooklyn, NY, with my husband, Andrew, an Executive Chef, and our lovable cat, Saber. Andrew’s expertise in food has taught me so much about cooking and recipes, which I love weaving into the resources I share with my clients. Food that is nutritious, and also tastes good, truly makes a difference!
Together, we’ll take your challenges and turn them into gold!
Trained + Trusted by:
Credentials and Affiliations: Integrative Nutrition Health Coach
via Institute for Integrative Nutrition
EFT Tapping Practitioner
Level 2 via Center for EFT studies
Mark Morris Dance Group
Dancer, full-time core company member 10+ yrs
BFA Modern Dance Performance
Graduated with honors, University of the Arts
Dance Educator
On faculty at New York City Ballet Education and The School at Mark Morris Dance Group
