With her signature style of choreography that seamlessly blends jazz and hip-hop, Nikki Dean-Hocker has shared her love for dance with audiences across the United States. Nikki has trained in dance for over forty years, and she has channeled her passion for the art into a successful career as a teacher, choreographer, and as JU Artistic and Executive Director.
Nikki holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance performance from Rutgers University/Stockton University. For the past twenty-five years, Nikki has taught multiple styles of dance. She taught and assisted at Broadway Dance Center in New York City, working for the late jazz legend Frank Hatchett, hip-hop artists Bev Brown and Rhapsody James. The experience of training and teaching at BDC helped Nikki to develop her own unique style of choreography, which she has shared with students of all ages at studios along the East Coast. Nikki has been a guest teacher and choreographer for several collegiate dance programs and national champion dance teams, as well as working as a performer and choreographer for artists of J Records and Virgin Records and at local theaters in NJ. She also serves as a guest judge and choreographer for regional and national dance competitions and conventions. Nikki’s choreography has been performed at the Wells Fargo Center during halftime at the Philadelphia Sixers game, the nationwide broadcast of Paula Abdul’s CBS reality show “Live to Dance”, and the local CBS show “Talk Philly” with Ukee Washington, where Nikki was featured as artist and choreographer. In addition, over the last twenty-four years Nikki’s choreography for Jazz Unlimited dancers has won numerous top honors. While the accolades are thrilling, Nikki’s most compelling gratification is to watch her gifted dancers grow into passionate and accomplished young artists. To expand her involvement in JU’s dancers’ achievements, Nikki took on a studio ownership role in 2021. In her leadership role, Nikki has worked with elite studio owners and directors from all over the world. She has traveled to Paris, France with Break The Floor Productions and is an Inner Circle Premier member of the Dance Studio Owner Association. Nikki brings all her dancing, choreography, and leadership skills to the studio every day for the enrichment of the dancers, JU families, choreographers, and staff.
Nikki would like to thank her husband Bill, son Norman, daughter Bailee, and entire family for their unconditional love and boundless support through this enthusiastic dance season. Lastly, Nikki is inspired to continue the Jazz Unlimited legacy and appreciates the opportunity and trust from Carryl, studio founder, to carry on the traditions and values of Jazz Unlimited. Together, with the Jazz Unlimited staff, families, and dancers our JU Strong mantra will ring true for many more years to come! For now, it’s time to enjoy JU’s Boogie Wonderland celebrations!