Nile H. Russell

Nile H. Russell is originally from Baltimore, MD. He received a B.A. in Dance from Connecticut College. In 2002, Nile traveled to Mysore, India, to pursue Temple and Architecture studies and Bharatanatyam dance at the University of Mysore and was able to teach modern dance classes to women and youth in the community. He moved to New York in 2004, where he danced with Silver-Brown Dance, LeeSaar The Company, Luis Lara Malvacias, Stefanie Nelson Dance Group, Naganuma Dance, and co-founded CaN Dance with Charly Wenzel.

In 2009, Nile joined Pilobolus Dance Theater as a dancer and later became Dance Captain of the touring company. Nile lived in Denver, CO, from 2014-2022 and was a movement consultant for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and a choreographer for the Arvada Center as well as an educator at multiple schools and studios across the state. While based in Denver, he performed with Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre and collaborated on and directed commissions for Crystal Bridges American Art Museum, the Momentary, the Clayton Members Club & Hotel, and multiple music videos. He has also been the creative director on community projects for educational and nonprofit organizations, taught movement workshops for California State University, and continued his work with Pilobolus as a Teaching Artist.

He is currently the Director of Education for the American Dance Festival and is based in Durham, NC.

Find Nile on Instagram here.

Find the American Dance Festival on Instagram here.