Nina Jane Patel, MA

“Dance is not about learning steps, a style or technique. Dance is any movement the body chooses to make, a physical expression that words cannot express. For all human beings, dance is a way to learn and communicate. As babies we relate to our caregivers through movement and physical contact. As children we continue to learn through movement. All movement is dance; our physical connection to others and non-verbal communication - a life long dance with the world.”

Nina is an advocate for dance, as an art-form, and its greater significance for our society. She is committed to creating opportunities to reveal and highlight the importance of dance (all movement and non-verbal communication) in how we live, learn and relate to each other. Nina holds a deep knowledge of artistic dance practices and practical know-how from management of companies and large scale projects. Nina has proven success within the arts + culture sector significantly impacting the organizations she works within. Nina has demonstrated strong leadership and advocacy for the arts throughout her career and this was recently recognized when she was selected for Banff Centre for Arts + Creativity’s inaugural Cultural Leadership Program and selected as a Leadership Fellow for the Business for the Arts CAS/21.

Past roles involve work with Nico Can Dance (an Atomic Cartoons production aired on PBSKids + BBCKids), Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Gearshifting Dance, The Lime Project Dance Company, Artists in Healthcare, Notting Hill School of Dance and Kids Company.

As a Dance Movement Therapist, she trained and worked in London (UK) for five years within the NHS, the British School System and Her Majesty’s Prisons. Nina has worked with a wide range of populations including; at risk youth, children with autism, behavioural and/or emotional issues, eating disorders and ADHD, as well as adults with mental health diagnoses, dementia, Alzheimer and long-term brain damage.

Throughout her career, Nina has been passionate about dance and believes that dance has the power to change lives. Through her non-profit start-up Dance As You Are, www.danceasyouare.com she endeavours to connect dance artists across the globe who are changing lives through dance and develop further access to dance as a mode of self-expression for all.

As an active Vancouver parent, with 4 children in the public school system, Nina is co-chair of the Henry Hudson Parent Advisory Council 2015-present.