About Me

 Keira Leigh Nichols is a dance artist from Phoenix, Arizona currently based in Tempe, Arizona. She is in the process of pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a concentration in Contemporary Modern and Contemporary Ballet at Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and Arts, with a minor in Justice Studies. Her artistic practice is grounded in contemporary modern dance, contemporary ballet, classical ballet, commercial jazz, ballroom, tap, acro, and shaped by values of thoughtfulness, precision, and collaboration. She is also exploring hip hop and Afro-Latin salsa. While at ASU, Keira has performed in faculty, student, and guest artists works, including Faculty Nicole Bradley Browning’s contemporary piece for Spring Dance Fest 2025, Look Up In Kindness, and Guest Artist, Joan Rodriquez’s original piece for Spring Dance Fest 2026.  

Keira’s work explores the intersections of movement, structure, and inquiry. With a particular interest in how science and embodied practice inform one another, Keira creates choreography that reflects the meticulous processes of investigation while inviting audiences to experience curiosity, empathy, and discovery. Her recent work includes a choreographic project structured around the six steps of forensic DNA analysis, as well as a research paper that argues the body can function simultaneously as both subject of investigation and investigator, tracing the parallel processes of research and choreography. She views choreography as both a personal and collective process, working closely with dancers to generate movement that is imaginative, methodical, and meaningful. Through this process, Keira aims to create performances that are not only emotionally resonant but also intellectually engaging, bridging the gap between artistic expression and analytical rigor.

As both a student and emerging choreographer, Keira Leigh Nichols is committed to growing her craft through research, experimentation, and interdisciplinary exploration. Her long-term goal is to continue developing work that merges artistry and inquiry, using dance as a space for reflection, education, and connection.