Nikki Feirt Atkins
The Founder and Producing Artistic Director of American Dance Machine for the 21st Century (ADM21), Nikki Feirt Atkins is a former dancer and an M.D.
Nikki studied ballet as a scholarship student at New Jersey Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. In addition, she studied Graham, Horton, East Indian dance (Bharatanatyam), jazz with Matt Mattox, Luigi and Betsy Haug with whom she performed. Of note, Nikki studied with Lee Theodore, founder of the original American Dance Machine, who had a profound influence on Nikki.
After a brief career as a professional dancer, Nikki went on to obtain her B.A. Magna Cum Laude in biology and performing arts at New York University. She subsequently earned her M.D., completed her residency and fellowships at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Cornell and Columbia and became a practicing pathologist and researcher at Columbia University Medical Center.
While subsequently working as a part-time pathologist in private practice, Nikki became involved in several dance projects, including Director of New Artistic Programs at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York and working with director/choreographer Chet Walker on projects including early stages of The Jack Cole Project. In February 2012, Nikki founded American Dance Machine for the 21st Century.
Riki Kane Larimer presents Gotta Dance! — the first dance production to capture the original choreography of classic musicals including West Side Story, Singin’ in the Rain, Pippin, A Chorus Line and others — all on one stage. This extraordinary musical, conceived by Nikki Feirt Atkins of ADM21 and originally produced at The York Theatre Company, pays tribute to the brilliant work of some of the musical theater's greatest choreographers. Experience the movement, music and magic that has defined generations of Broadway and Hollywood dance and continues to inspire audiences today. Gotta Dance! embodies true Broadway history.
The company of Gotta Dance! features Keely Beirne, Brandon Burks, Anthony Cannarella, Barton Cowperthwaite, Deanna Doyle, Sara Esty, Jessica Lee Goldyn, RJ Higton, Kate Louissaint, Libby Lloyd, Drew Minard, Cole Newburg, Melody Rose, Samantha Siegel, Ahmad Simmons, Landon Winslow, and Blake Zelesnikar.
Co-directed by Nikki Feirt Atkins and four-time Tony Award-nominated director/choreographer Randy Skinner (42nd Street, Dames at Sea), Gotta Dance! is now playing at Stage 42 (422 W. 42nd Street). The official opening is tomorrow Tuesday, March 31 at 7:30 PM.