Jackie Nowicki is a Chicago-based dance educator, choreographer, and artist known for her bold, athletic, and distinctive approach to movement. With a career spanning performance, choreography, education, and artistic leadership, Jackie is passionate about creating work that fosters individuality, emotional connection, and a deep sense of artistry.
Jackie received her BFA in Dance from Western Michigan University, where she graduated summa cum laude, was named a Presidential Scholar, and was honored as the Department of Dance’s Distinguished Alumna in 2016. As a performer, she toured and performed internationally with Pilobolus Dance Theater’s PCS company and is certified through the Pilobolus Educational Outreach Program. Her additional performance credits include Mike Esperanza’s BARE Dance Company, Calen Kurka’s pushing progress, and Marlena Wolfe’s The Wolfe Project.
Jackie has served as part-time faculty in Western Michigan University’s Department of Dance and spent ten years immersed in New York City’s professional dance community, where she was a faculty member at Peridance Capezio Center and guest faculty at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center. Since returning to Chicago, she has taught at leading institutions including Visceral Dance Center, Lou Conte Dance Studio, COMMON Conservatory, The Rooted Space, Steps Dance Center, and Exhibit Three Dance Company. She currently serves as Assistant Director of Extensions Dance Center, where she is dedicated to mentoring and developing the next generation of young artists.
As an educator, Jackie has taught nationally and internationally through studios, conventions, workshops, and master classes, including engagements in Rome, Italy. She is currently a faculty member with Celebrity Dance Conventions and has also worked with Dance Device Labs, Turn It Up Dance Challenge, and Stage Door Workshops. Her teaching specialties include Contemporary and Improvisation, with an emphasis on physicality, athleticism, musicality, and movement clarity. She encourages dancers to build a strong foundation through knowledge and body awareness, creating the confidence and freedom to take creative risks, explore individuality, and develop an authentic movement voice.
As a choreographer, Jackie is the Artistic Director of NOW Dance Project, a contemporary dance company with roots in both New York City and Chicago. Her choreography has been commissioned and presented by professional companies, studios, universities, and educational institutions throughout the United States, including The Ailey School, Dancing in the Parks, Elon University, The Hartt School, Marymount Manhattan College, Nova Linea Contemporary Dance, Salve Regina University, University of South Florida, Western Michigan University, Urbanity, the Peridance Certificate Program, Wayne State University, and Visceral Dance Chicago, among many others.
Jackie’s choreography has received numerous accolades and has been selected for presentation at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as part of the American College Dance Association’s National Festival. Across her work as a performer, educator, choreographer, and mentor, Jackie creates work that challenges dancers, celebrates individuality, and leaves audiences with a lasting impression.