Founder and Director Nicole Crist, originally a jazz and modern dancer, has trained under the guidance of master dance educator Lynn Simonson (founding director of the renowned Dance New Amsterdam), and Sara Neece (former ballet mistress of the Frankfrut Ballet). She has performed on many stages throughout her hometown of NYC, but is more proud to have produced and choreographed dozens of dance concerts and Off-Broadway shows. Nicole was the co-founder and executive director of Elojes Dance Theater, from 2004-2007, based in Brooklyn. She was on faculty teaching Simonson Jazz at Dance New Amsterdam and selling-out her all-original Off-Broadway production of Alice in Wonderland before moving to Arizona in 2007. In Phoenix Nicole has has taught master classes at numerous local studios, semesters at the School of Ballet Arizona, Glendale Community College, Scottsdale Community College, and residencies at Paradise Valley Community College and Arizona School for the Arts.
In 2005 Nicole decided to take flight, receiving her initial aerial training from Amanda Topaz of Rockit Aerials and MH Aerial Studio in NYC. She has not returned to the ground since! She formed Altitude Aerials in 2009, and through her company she enjoys teaching, collaborating, choreographing and performing in the aerial mediums of silks, trapeze, hammock, hoop, swing, and harness. Now based back in NYC Nicole divides her time between AZ and NYC, and travels to other states for performance and teaching engagements.