Nicole Thomas, professionally known as “Pinky”, is a distinguished multidisciplinary artist, choreographer, educator, ethnographer, and cultural ambassador, with foundational roots in St. Louis, MO. She began her formal dance training at the age of five, cultivating expertise across a broad spectrum of movement techniques including, Ballet, Dunham Technique, Jazz, Tap, African, Hip Hop, and Musical Theatre. Her extensive background reflects a deep commitment to both the artistic and cultural dimensions of dance.

With over 25 years of experience in education, Pinky brings a profound understanding of dance, coupled with exceptional fluency in diverse forms, situating each within its appropriate historical and cultural lineage. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges artistic practice with academic inquiry, affirming dance as both an expressive art form and a tool for critical engagement and interdisciplinary scholarship. Her pedagogy is deeply informed by mentorship under iconic figures such as Katherine Dunham, Theodore Jamison, Robert Reed, Mestre Joao Grande, Papa Abdoulaye Camara, and other esteemed artists.

Pinky embodies a rigorous understanding of dance as a vehicle for communication, cultural expression, and social transformation. Passionate about nurturing creative minds, Pinky challenges students and artists alike to embrace diverse movement vocabularies and musical aesthetics – cultivating versatility, cultural fluency, and embodied understanding. Her work continues to inspire and empower artists to become thoughtful, expressive, and culturally aware communicators through movement.