Nina Lucas

Chair, Theatre and Dance, Professor of Dance

  • B.F.A Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance, The Ohio State University
  • M.F.A Master of Fine Arts in Performance and Education, University of California Los Angeles


Nina Maria Lucas is a Professor of Dance and has been a member of the faculty since 1996.  She served as Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance from 2016-2022 and as the Director of the Dance Program from 1996-2016.  She is the Artistic Director of the Dance Company.  Nina began her training early in Dayton, Ohio and went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance from The Ohio State University.  

After graduation, she continued her training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Phil Black Dance and Martha Graham Studio in New York City, and later went on to receive her Master of Fine Arts in Performance and Education from the University of California Los Angeles. 

As Associate Professor of Dance, she brings knowledge from study and
performance with Carol Scothorn, Ronald Brown, Shapiro and Smith, Risa Steinberg, and in the L.A. Art Festival’s “The Dance Collective” under the direction of Peter Sellars and producer Neil Barkley. Her teaching experience
includes, but, is not limited to technique (modern/jazz), History and Philosophy of Dance, Dance Practicum (performance, production and repertory), Principles of Conditioning and Strength Training for Dancers-Care and Prevention, Dance Composition, Choreography, Dance Administration, Dance Education and Dance for Children.  

In May 2000, Nina received the “Excellence in Teaching” award presented by the faculty of the North Carolina School of the Arts Dance Department. In February 2001, she was awarded the Reid-Doyle Excellence in Teaching Award from Wake Forest University.


Courses Taught:
Jazz Dance: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (FYS 100)
African American Choreographers (FYS 100)
History of Dance (DCE 202)
Multi-Ethnic Dance (DCE 236)
Dance Composition (DCE 123)
Beg/Int/Adv Modern Dance Technique  (DCE 120/221/222)
Beg/Int/Adv Jazz Dance Technique (DCE 126/226/227)
Performance/Choreography  (DCE 128/129)
Movement for Men (DCE 130) Now Movement for All
Senior Project (DCE 200)
Individual Study (DCE 294)

Nina Lucas