Jennifer Nichols
Jennifer Nichols (she/her) is an award winning Canadian director, choreographer, dancer and movement educator with a portfolio of over 20 years of work for both stage and screen. Her extensive portfolio highlights a broad range of disciplines and styles and has established her as a trusted professional with knowledge of all aspects of production. Frequently in demand for her movement work in opera, art song and choral music, both for singers and trained dancers alike, she is known for giving performers of all backgrounds agency and confidence to speak with their bodies. Her choreography and guidance empowers artists to use their individual physicality to tell stories with honesty and vulnerability.
For stage, Jennifer holds extensive choreography and performance credits, including the Dora Award Nominated Pandora (FAWN Chamber Creative), Seven Deadly Sins (Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Summer Music Festival), Dora Award-Winner Messiah (Against the Grain Theatre), Sweat (Bicycle Opera), L’Histoire du Soldat (Toronto Summer Music Festival), Lilt (Esprit Orchestra), Sewing the Earthworm (The Canadian Art Song Project), Synesthesia IV (FAWN Chamber Creative), The Mystical Soul (The Art Gallery of Ontario), La Belle Helene (The Glenn Gould School) and Die Fledermaus (Opera 5). She was also commissioned as director of Hausmusik-Traverseé for Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and has Assistant Director credits with the Canadian Opera Company.
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 historical dance.
Jennifer draws on her extensive choreographic background for her work as a television and film director. An exciting new directorial voice, her style is known for its dynamic energy, a dance between the camera and its subject.
Her feature film directorial debut, Sweat (Bicycle Opera), premiered at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival. It received Opera America’s award for Digital Excellence in Artistic Creation (2024) and Best Narrative Feature at the L.A. Independent Women Film Awards (2023). Celebrated director Atom Egoyan calls it, “An extraordinary film. Made with care and bravura and full of rich emotion.”
For television and film, Jennifer holds Head Choreographer and Dance/Script consultant credits for the Netflix series Tiny Pretty Things. She was choreographer for all four seasons of Reign (CW), cementing her reputation as a specialist in historical dance. Other key credits include Titans (DC Universe), Matlock (CBS), Law&Order Criminal Intent (Amazon), Frankie Drake (CBC), Salvation (CBS), Mary Kills People (Global TV), Reacher (Amazon), Hudson & Rex (CBC), Davey & Jonesie’s Locker (Amazon) and the feature film Barney’s Version (Serendipity Point Films).
In addition to performance, Jennifer is a leader and educator in the worlds of fitness and sport. Her renowned ballet fitness program, The Extension Method is followed by professional and amateur movers worldwide. She coaches and conditions dancers, circus artists and elite athletes in synchronized swimming and figure skating.
February 2025
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““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.” ”
