Today, Nichelle teaches at AMDA College of the Arts, Encore Performing Arts Center, and Performing Arts Center in Van Nuys, and is on faculty with Motiv8 Dance Convention. She is a certified and licensed Progressing Ballet Technique instructor.
Now, at Hama Dance Center, Nichelle is teaching Doug Caldwell’s Legacy Class and passing on his technique, choreography, and passion to those discovering his artistry for the first time and to those who danced with him and want to feel that passion again.
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Nichelle Bane
Nichelle Bane is a Los Angeles–based dancer, choreographer, and teacher whose career has been shaped by one of lyrical dance’s most legendary voices: Doug Caldwell, “The Godfather of Lyrical.” As a dancer, Nichelle was a member and soloist with the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo by the age of 14, and in 1990 left San Luis Obispo to become a line captain and featured dancer on Princess Cruise Line. Since moving to Los Angeles, she studied under and became an assistant to Doug Caldwell, assisting him in class and choreography for over 15 years — a partnership that gave her a rare, firsthand understanding of his technique and artistry, which she now carries forward to a new generation of dancers.
Nichelle’s credits include Friends, Clueless, Austin Powers 2, Totally Blonde, Divine Design, and Her Last Chance (MOW), along with national commercials for Mervyns, McDonald’s, Bacardi, and NBC. She co-choreographed the Trading Spaces commercial starring Paige Davis and has worked alongside choreographers Marguerite Derricks, Mia Michaels, and Vincent Paterson.
As founder and artistic director of the LA-based Reflections Dance Company, Nichelle brings inspiration to the stage through all genres of dance, with choreography that crosses the boundaries from commercial to theatrical. Reflections has been invited to participate in reputable events including the Mix Match Dance Festival, Dancing for NED, and the McCallum Choreography Festival in Palm Springs (2011–2014), and continues presenting around Southern California.
Since being brought on as resident choreographer for Astra Dance Theater in 2012, Nichelle has helped bring unique dance shows to the stage — including “Eleonora,” an Edgar Allan Poe story, and “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” a 1920 German silent horror film, presented at the Booking Dance Festival at Jazz at Lincoln Center NYC in 2015 and 2016. Astra’s short film “Cod’ine” has won over 100 awards on the international film festival circuit, and Nichelle continues to work with Astra creating new works for stage and screen.