Nicholas Gray

He/They
Dance Teacher

Nicholas Bradley Gray (he/they) is a local Director/Choreographer and is so excited to be back on faculty at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre School of Theatre Arts for the 2023-2024 school year. Nicholas grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where they trained in theatre, music, and dance at First Stage Children’s Theatre, Milwaukee Children’s Choir, and Milwaukee Ballet School. After receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in Ballet with an Outside Field in Theatre and Drama from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music Nicholas moved to Grand Rapids to dance as an apprentice with Grand Rapids Ballet for the 2018-2019 season. Nicholas can often be found at the Grand Rapids Ballet School teaching ballet technique classes or around town directing and choreographing at organizations such as Circle Theatre, Western Michigan University, and East Grand Rapids Middle and High Schools. Nicholas loves being able to pass on their many years of accrued knowledge to the next generation of performers and instill in them the philosophy that dancing, above all, should be joyful, safe, and inclusive.

What inspires you?
Joy inspires me. If something isn’t fun I don’t want to do it. I strive to be enthusiastic in my teaching so I can inspire my students to seek joy and revel in the beauty of their movement and their bodies.

Who is your favorite fictional character?
Peter Pan has always been my favorite! I relate to his desire to stay youthful, joyful, and free forever and, of course, would love to be able to fly!

What was your favorite after school snack growing up?
A granola bar was always a great, healthy snack choice for an after school snack that would power me through an evening of rehearsals or dance classes!