NANCY TURANO DANCE

ABOUT

Nancy Turano is a Director, Master Teacher and Choreographer for Dance, Film, Opera and TV. She received a BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase and performed as an acclaimed principal dancer with Ballet Hispanico of New York where she was rehearsal director, repetiteur and faculty. She also danced with Buglisi Dance Theatre and guested with numerous companies including Ballet Concerto de Puerto Rico and Martine Van Hamel’s New Amsterdam Ballet.

As Artistic Director of the New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble for 31 years, Turano is acknowledged for creating innovative training programs for dancers in the NJ/NYC metro area. Her contemporary programs MIP2® at NYLA and Movement Invention Project® (MIP®) at Baryshnikov Arts Center were named "top 10 international contemporary programs".  She commissioned over 55 cutting edge choreographers to create works including, Sidra Bell, Andrea Miller, Adam Barruch, Shannon Gillen and Robert Battle while bringing works of iconic choreographers including Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, David Parsons, Robert Garland and Kate Skarpetowska.

Ms. Turano’s choreography has been presented throughout the US, Mexico, Panama, Israel, Sweden and Germany. She has choreographed 28 new works for NJDTE as well as works for Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, Bat Dor in Israel, New York University, National Ballet of Sweden School and Luna Negra Dance Theatre in Chicago.  Her full-length “Carmen” was  filmed for a feature on PBS Channel 13. Her short film “Tango Octogenario” has been featured on PBS Channel 13, at the New Films/New Directors series in Lincoln Center, the Tribeca Film Festival, and over 40 film festivals around the world. She has choreographed for TV episodes of Law and Order Criminal Intent and many Operas presented at BAM, NYC to Dessau Germany.

Turano is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2017 NJSCA Individual Artist Fellowship for Excellence in Choreography, NJSCA 2012 NJ Governor’s Award, NJSCA 2011 Distinguished Teaching Artist Award, and Outstanding Alumni Award by the Chancellor of SUNY Schools. She has been a National panelist and Chair for YOUNG ARTS for Presidential Scholars for the Arts and served on the NJPAC Advisory Committee. A master teacher, Turano has taught at Ballet Hispanico, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Aspen Ballet, National Ballet of Panama, Teatro San Martin in Argentina, Bat-Dor in Israel, Vancouver Arts Umbrella, National Ballet of Sweden School, Celine Dion’s “A New Day,” Montclair State University, New York University, Purchase College, and over 30 Universities in the US. Turano was the Founding Director of the Harkness Youth Ballet at the 92nd St. Y in NYC and on the ballet faculty of the Pre-Professional Division of the Ailey School and Ailey/ Fordham BFA Program for 21 years.