Sharing love of dance on the North Shore

If you attended the Gold Coast Dance Festival at Morgan Park, enjoyed time at Orkestai Farm in Oyster Bay, or took theatre and dance classes at Long Island University, chances are you’ve met Nicole Albruzzese, of Sea Cliff. The professional ballerina has helped cultivate the artistic atmosphere that the North Shore is known for.
Now, one year into her role as executive artistic director for the Ohman School of Ballet Albruzzese she will return to the stage as an alumna to usher fans into the world of one of the most complex theatrical, staged ballets, “The Nutcracker.”
The 47-year-old has loved dancing since she was 5. Since her parents frequently saw her dancing and singing around their home, Albruzzese’s mother followed her maternal instincts and enrolled her daughter in classes at The Ohman School of Ballet, where she began her classical training under the direction of ballet soloist Frank Ohman in 1981.
Albruzzese started her professional career with the New York Dance Theatre at the age of 17 while also on scholarship at Joffrey Ballet School. Her dance career is vast and diverse having performed extensively with Momix and Ballet Hispanico, as well as several regional classical and contemporary companies for a collective 25 years before shifting her attention toward directing and producing. She’s performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages spanning 44 countries across six continents and taught master classes worldwide and was an associate choreographer of the “Dove-Symbol of Peace,” featured in the opening ceremonies for the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
Directing the Olympic performance was difficult, but not solely because of the international spotlight. Living accommodations were uncomfortable for international guests, Albruzzese said. Toilets were installed backwards, a food shortage caused weight loss for many of the event’s participants, and the Olympic community was aware of the watchful eye of Russian President Vladimir Putin. She remembers sitting in her hotel room, a cup of noodles in hand, realizing that her resilience, experience as a dancer and director prepared her to take on a new role.

“It was the impetus,” Albruzzese said about establishing her own company. “It was the exact moment in my life where I said, ‘I can go home and do this on my own.’”
In the midst of her years as a full time traveling dancer, Albruzzese craved peace and quiet, and somewhere with lush greenery, a place where she could walk to a village and get to know the community.
“Being on the road was a bit isolating that way,” the South Huntington native, said. “Although you do travel with your community, you don’t get to really drop your roots anywhere, but I found those roots in Sea Cliff and in Glen Cove.”
Not long after she moved to the North Shore, Albruzzese established Moving On, her own dance company. The company was founded with two objectives in mind: branding through entertainment and “arting” with like-minded individuals. Moving On is best known for their colorful play with fabric, props, costumes, and use of light. Albruzzese said she’s always inspired by natural phenomenon and driven to offer unique experiences that challenge the public to unplug and reconnect with one another and the natural world around them. Establishing Moving On helped springboard the Gold Coast Dance Festival, one of the area’s most anticipated summer festivals.
“I just wanted people to come together and celebrate each other’s similarities through culture,” Albruzzese said. “At the heart of culture, you find food, music, and dance, and what’s often missing is the dance part.”
When she became the artistic director of the Ohman School, Albruzzese knew she wanted to help diversify the world of ballet for youth on a socio-economic level, and reach children who may not be able to afford classes or uniforms. She helped to create Développé, an outreach program initiative and partnership with Hope for Youth on Long Island, which introduces the arts to at-risk youth.
“What it does is offers workshops, performances, free performances, classes, scholarships, mentors, to at risk youth, through our community partners, as well as foster families and young single mothers that are in need,” Albruzzese said. “We want to really truly help reach into our communities, to ensure that every child has a shot in this wonderful discipline and community.”