Nicole Mahncke

Director

Nicole Mahncke (Nikki Manx) is a dance educator, choreographer, performer, arts advocate, community outreach organizer, and social justice activist. Nikki received her BFA in dance from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University in 2006. She continued graduate studies in Arts Leadership & Cultural Management online at Colorado State University. As a dance educator, Nikki has shared her knowledge, knowhow and passion with thousands of aspiring young dancers from NJ’s largest dance studios to public schools. Since 2004, Nikki taught all ages and forms of dance throughout New Jersey, where she is a state certified dance educator for grades K-12 with the New Jersey Board of Education. Current and former teaching assignments include Richard E. Byrd School, Glen Rock MSHS, Ramapo High School, Bergen Community College in the Continuing Education Department/Summer Programs, and as a Teaching Artist for Bergen PAC, where she choreographed “Legally Blonde” and “Mamma Mia” for high school students at Dwight Morrow High School.  Nikki has created professional development workshops for performing arts teachers in Newark charter schools and travels to senior homes with cultural dance programming and performances. Nikki has also worked on special projects as a Dance Facilitator incorporating mixed abilities, most notably through the Arts Access program at Matheny Medical Center. 

Nikki is also the Artistic Director and Choreographer of Nikki Manx Dance Project, a non-profit NJ-based modern dance company. She has presented professional cause-driven multimedia dance productions that encourage environmental sustainability and social justice with the company since 2008.  Her work has been performed at Dixon Place, South Street Seaport, Jennifer Muller/THE Works Studio, Greenspace Studio, Southern Vermont Dance Festival, Two River Theatre, Bergen Community College, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Drew University, Kean University, Puffin Cultural Forum, Grounds for Sculpture, and HacPAC. Nikki received ten arts awards as a grant recipient through the Bergen County Division of Historic and Cultural Affairs. She continues to include her student dancers in professional work and provides outreach opportunities to give back to the community, keeping the “heart” in dance, most notably with her signature charitable flashmobs. She has performed in various music videos and commercial projects, including producing flashmobs for Flashmob.com. Nikki has performed the work of Lynn Needle, Olivia Galgano, Jamie Marie Hannigan, Kelly Donovan, Erin Pride, Cleo Mack, Randy James, Alie Vidich, and Glen Burtnik in “Back to the 80s” at the Count Bassie Theater (Red Bank, NJ), and “Beatles Bash VII” (State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ.) She is also an active Dance New Jersey member, and a board member of the Ridgewood Guild, inspired by her deep commitment to serving her community.

As an arts advocate, Nikki formerly served on the board of the New Jersey Arts Education Collective and the Eco Art Committee at the Teaneck Creek Conservancy. It is with much gratitude that Nikki carries on the vibrant dance legacy in The Performing Arts Building at 17 Chestnut St. in Ridgewood, NJ. Before HeART in Motion, Nikki worked as staff, faculty, board member, and studio director in the space as Art in Motion, managing the Junior Performance Ensemble and Youth Program, as well as participating in monthly showings with the Bergen Dancemakers at the studio since 2009. The Bergen Dancemakers provide mentorship, feedback and performance opportunities for adult dancers from college-100+ years old (true story). This organization continues to meet monthly at the studio, or on Zoom. Nikki strives to integrate HeART dancers into community collaborations through her membership with the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, and Ridgewood Walks. Nikki is a firm believer that there is nothing as powerful as a community getting together to create positive change and support one another, especially during these unprecedented times.