CHOREOGRAPHER

Dance tells the story of social evolution, of celebration, of ritual. It utilizes shape and form to express collective emotion, where words fall short. Empowering performers to be comfortable in their own unique physicality requires care and support. By democratizing movement we can elevate storytelling for everyone.

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With a choreographic portfolio for stage and screen spanning over twenty years, Jennifer is known for her ability to craft dynamic movement tailored to different mediums. Her experience and versatility in working with both professionally trained dancers and those new to movement results in compelling performances that are powerful, naturalistic and honest.

For television and film, Jennifer's work has been featured on Netflix, Amazon, CBS, CW, Hulu, Crave, HBO Max, CBC and Global. She holds Head Choreographer/Dance Consultant credits for the Netflix original series ‘Tiny Pretty Things’ and was Choreographer for all four seasons of ‘Reign’ (CW), cementing her reputation as a specialist in ballet and historical dance.

Jennifer’s versatility as a choreographer stems from a background that encompasses concert stage performance in dance, opera, orchestral and choral music, film and television, and 20+ years as co-director of the commercial events company Hit & Run Dance Productions (with clients such as MAC Cosmetics, TIFF, Chanel, Porsche, NIKE, Casa Loma and Toronto Botanical Gardens).
This diverse portfolio has made her adaptable to any style/genre and vastly different production requirements. Her extensive network of performing artists uniquely positions her to also provide casting consultation and curation.
Jennifer is known for her critically acclaimed work in operatic productions, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s 7 Deadly Sins, Against the Grain Theatre’s Messiah, and the Dora Mavor Moore nominated Pandora (FAWN Chamber Creative). She empowers singers to push the limits of their physicality within the comfort of their vocal performance, making her an in-demand choreographer and movement director in the industry.

FILM & TV

Director, Choreographer, Producer

Feature film
Bicycle Opera
Head Choreographer, Consultant

(10 episodes) Television Series
Netflix- Showrunner: Michael MacLennan
Choreographer, Movement Coach

(35 episodes) Television Series
CW
Choreographer, Movement Coach

Television Series
HBO Max
Choreographer

Television Series
CBS
Choreographer

Television Series
Crave
Choreographer

Television Series
Amazon
Choreographer

Television Series
CBC
Choreographer

Television Series
Amazon
Choreographer

Television Series
CBC
Choreographer, Movement Coach

Television Series
Global
Choreographer

Television Series
USA Network
Co-Choreographer

Feature film
Serendipity Point Films
Choreographer

Television Series
CBS
Choreographer

Short Film
Torchhead Productions
Choreographer

Short Film
Torchhead Productions
Choreographer

TV Pilot
CW- Director: Eva Longoria
Choreographer

TV Pilot
CW- Director: Jason Ensler
Director, Choreographer

Short Film
Exultate Chamber Singers
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Co-Director, Co-Choreographer

Short Film
Moving Target Media/ Hit&Run Dance Productions
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Director, Choreographer

Short Film
JJ Dance Arts
Co-Director, Choreographer, Dancer

Short Film In Development
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Co-Director, Choreographer, Dancer

Short Film
New Art New Media In Development
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Director, Choreographer

Short Film
No Intermission Media In Development

STAGE

Director, Choreographer In Development
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Choreographer, Dancer
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
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Choreographer
Against the Grain Theatre
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Choreographer, Dancer
Esprit Orchestra
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Choreographer, Dancer
Toronto Summer Music Festival
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Choreographer, Dancer
FAWN Chamber Creative
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Choreographer, Dancer
Canadian Art Song Project
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Choreographer Bicycle Opera Project
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Director, Choreographer
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra
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Choreographer
Opera 5
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Choreographer
The Glenn Gould School, Royal Conservatory of Music
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Co-Director, Choreographer
FAWN Chamber Creative
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Choreographer, Dancer
Art Gallery of Ontario
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Choreographer, Dancer IN.SET
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Co-Artistic Director, Choreographer Hit & Run Dance Productions 2004-current
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FILM & TELEVISION REEL

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"Jennifer was a key member of our creative team, overseeing all aspects of dance in what was arguably television's most ambitious dance series ever. From casting to coaching, and from choreography to scheduling, Jennifer ensured that the calibre of dance was always top-notch. She drew on a range of talents to deliver an array of thrilling sequences every episode. Jenn has a rare ability to both work within the production demands of our industry, while also empowering dancers to deliver their best. In my experience, there’s no one better.”

- Michael MacLennan; Executive Producer and Showrunner, Tiny Pretty Things- NETFLIX
"Working in conjunction with Ivany, choreographer Jennifer Nichols has added a sinewy, sensuous layer of physicality, an overarching passion play, part modern dance, part Baroque posture."

- Ian Ritchie, Opera Going Toronto, Against the Grain Theatre- ‘Messiah’
‘Jennifer’s contribution to ‘Reign’ was invaluable. With court dance featuring heavily throughout the series, her choreography added beauty, emotion and intrigue to the story. She has a tremendous eye for crafting movement on camera and making actors look their best in motion.’

- Laurie McCarthy, Creator/Showrunner, REIGN- CW Network
"I want to mention Jennifer Nichols, whose choreography goes beyond anything I’ve ever seen in an opera… Nichols creates a world populated by dancers and amateurs alike, graceful and empowered whether they’re in dancing shoes or not…I’m reminded of Pina Bausch whose wonderfully moral influence can be seen in Nichols’ willingness to work with bodies of every age, shape, and fitness level, a democratic world that’s genuinely representative of everyone and not just the elite few."

- Leslie Barcza, BARCZA BLOG- Opera 5- Die Fledermaus (Choreographer)
"Choreographer Jennifer Nichols’ sensuous fusion of classical ballet and modern dance, vibrantly accented with fluid gesture, lends an air of engaging intensity to Ivany’s universalized faith quest. Highly syncopated when applied to chorus, more idiosyncratic in the case of soloists, singers fling Handel’s music into the air, tracing its exquisitely lush lines of melody with hands and bodies, oscillating, vibrating, acute emotion unleashed. Nichols’ work, startling and raw in AtG’s first staging of Messiah, two years later has blossomed into an assured, polished style."

- OPERA GOING TORONTO- Against the Grain Theatre- Messiah (2015), Choreographer
"To see a group of male singer actors so proficiently engaged in intricate patterns of contemporary dance is extraordinary. Wickedly ironic, darkly visionary, The Seven Deadly Sins is a sinfully rich experience, musical theatre of sheer perfection, supremely satisfying, thoroughly delectable."

- Ian Ritchie, OPERA GOING TORONTO- Toronto Symphony Orchestra- Seven Deadly Sins (choreographer & dancer)
"Working with Jennifer was a complete pleasure. Not only did she bring a clear and exciting creative vision to our project, but she also managed the complex process with calm assurance, excellent communication, and a joyful, infectious enthusiasm.”

- Vivian Moens, Operations Manager, Exultate Chamber Singers
"And I’d be remiss if I don’t give my strongest kudos to Jennifer Nichols, who was simply amazing as the dancer and choreographer."

- Joseph So, MUSICAL TORONTO- Toronto Symphony Orchestra- Seven Deadly Sins

‘Jennifer’s contribution to ‘Reign’ was invaluable. With court dance featuring heavily throughout the series, her choreography added beauty, emotion and intrigue to the story. She has a tremendous eye for crafting movement on camera and making actors look their best in motion.’

- Laurie McCarthy, Creator/Showrunner, REIGN- CW Network
"Working with Jennifer was a complete pleasure. Not only did she bring a clear and exciting creative vision to our project, but she also managed the complex process with calm assurance, excellent communication, and a joyful, infectious enthusiasm.”

- Vivian Moens, Operations Manager, Exultate Chamber Singers
"This film fires on all pistons — a thrilling, masterfully crafted union of opera and dance.”

- Michael Maclennan, Creator/Showrunner, Tiny Pretty Things, Bomb Girls; writer, Queer as Folk
“An extraordinary film. Made with care and bravura and full of rich emotion.”

- Atom Egoyan
"Jennifer was a key member of our creative team, overseeing all aspects of dance in what was arguably television's most ambitious dance series ever. From casting to coaching, and from choreography to scheduling, Jennifer ensured that the calibre of dance was always top-notch. She drew on a range of talents to deliver an array of thrilling sequences every episode. Jenn has a rare ability to both work within the production demands of our industry, while also empowering dancers to deliver their best. In my experience, there’s no one better.”

- Michael MacLennan; Executive Producer and Showrunner, Tiny Pretty Things- NETFLIX
"Choreographer Jennifer Nichols’ sensuous fusion of classical ballet and modern dance, vibrantly accented with fluid gesture, lends an air of engaging intensity to Ivany’s universalized faith quest. Highly syncopated when applied to chorus, more idiosyncratic in the case of soloists, singers fling Handel’s music into the air, tracing its exquisitely lush lines of melody with hands and bodies, oscillating, vibrating, acute emotion unleashed. Nichols’ work, startling and raw in AtG’s first staging of Messiah, two years later has blossomed into an assured, polished style."

- OPERA GOING TORONTO- Against the Grain Theatre- Messiah (2015), Choreographer
"And I’d be remiss if I don’t give my strongest kudos to Jennifer Nichols, who was simply amazing as the dancer and choreographer."

- Joseph So, MUSICAL TORONTO- Toronto Symphony Orchestra- Seven Deadly Sins
"Stepping out of her capacity as choreographer into dancing slippers, Jennifer Nichols embodies all the vulnerability and pathos of Anna II, sensuous, almost ethereal. There is a vague aura of earthly piety surrounding her relentlessly persecuted character, an innocent agnus dei who assumes the sins of the world and by doing so, removes them. Perhaps it is the purity of her line, perhaps it is her grace, somehow Nichols embodies an almost angelic presence on stage. Anna II’s near total physical and emotional destruction at the hands of all who abuse her becomes a tragic coda."

- OPERA GOING TORONTO- Toronto Symphony Orchestra- Seven Deadly Sins (choreographer & dancer)
"To see a group of male singer actors so proficiently engaged in intricate patterns of contemporary dance is extraordinary. Wickedly ironic, darkly visionary, The Seven Deadly Sins is a sinfully rich experience, musical theatre of sheer perfection, supremely satisfying, thoroughly delectable."

- Ian Ritchie, OPERA GOING TORONTO- Toronto Symphony Orchestra- Seven Deadly Sins (choreographer & dancer)