Nickely Burke, Artistic Director, Choreographer, Dancer & Teacher

Nickely co-founded Biserk Dance Company with Sarah Bishop in 1995. Australian-born Nickely gained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Film & Television and then moved to London where she worked at the BBC until 1994 when she opened Oxford Contemporary Dance School.

Nickely has choreographed 15 professional dance pieces with Biserk to date. In 1996 she was the winner of the Southern Arts & Thamesdown Dance Choreographic Award.

Nickely has worked with choreographers Aletta Colins, Yael Flexer and Herve Robbe. Nickely is a regional dance artist and works for various performing arts colleges and schools as dance teacher and choreographer.

Nickely is known in Oxfordshire for her outstanding contribution to youth dance. She also takes teaching/choreographic work in Spain, France and Vienna.

More recently Nickely has been working with actors and physical theatre artists to combine narrative with eye-popping abstract movement and choreography.

David Hudson, Dancer

David trained for three years at the Laban Centre London, working with choreographers such as, Athina Vahla, Gary Lambert and Amanda Gogh. A highlight of his early performing career, studying under Susan Sentler from the original Graham Company (U.S) was performing in the true recreation of Martha Graham's Acts of Light. Currently living in Ontario, Canada, David was recently the winner of Entertainer of the Year for his efforts both in choreography and Performance in Cabaret Showcases around the Province. David has been teaching and choreographing dance in and around Oxford for many years, and is known particularly for his outstanding work with boys contemporary dance groups. David has been a member of Biserk since 2002.

Biserk History

2010
Animal site-specific piece choreographed by Nickely Burke & David Hudson for 24 dancers

2009
Choreography of site-specific dance for launch of The Spring (Havant Arts Centre, Hampshire)
Brasenose Place collaboration with Emma Webb & Nickely Burke:
A site-specific piece made for Dancin’ Oxford Festival
Untitled duet choreographed & performed by Nickely Burke & David Hudson

2008
A to Z duet choreographed & performed by Nickely Burke & David Hudson
Hotel collaboration with Ryan Saunders & Nickely Burke
She Knows That You Know choreographed by Nickely Burke

2005/6
Tour of Aurora
Choreography: Nickely Burke
Music: Christian Alexander
Costumes: Katy Howkins
Speakeasy, collaboration with Emma Webb & Nickely Burke
Blood, Sweat & Tears, choreography Sarah Bishop & Nickely Burke

2004
Spring and Autumn Tour of One Third of a Picture, Odd Positions and L’empreinte dans le Jardin

2003
One Third of A Picture, a dance, music & film collaboration
Choreographer Nickely Burke
Composer Christian Alexander
Digital Artist Kasia Howard
Costume Designer Katy Howkins

2002
Odd Positions (R&D funded by SEDA)
Choreographer Nickely Burke
Mentor Charlotte Hacker

2001
Oubliette
Choreographer Nickely Burke
Mentor Hervé Robbe
Composer Christian Alexander
Costume Designer Mike Connor
L’empreinte dans le Jardin, made at the National Choreographic Centre, Le Havre
Choreographer Hervé Robbe
Lighting Designer Gildas Percevault
Quintessence
Choreographer Nickely Burke

2000
Spring Tour Rope

1999
Rope, dance collaboration with Techno Trance band The Secret
Choreographer Nickely Burke
Tabla Rasa
Choreographer Sarah Druce

1998
Sticky, Swindon Danslab ’98
Choreographer Nickely Burke
Mentor Aletta Collins
Hoodoo Zephyr, commissioned duet
Choreographer Aletta Collins,
Not like That
Choreographer Nickely Burke

1997
Half Light, Danslab ’97 Swindon Dance
Choreographer Sarah Bishop

1996
As Seen on TV Winners Southern Arts Choreographic Award 1996 Choreographer Nickely Burke performed at “Resolution!” Jan’97
Music: Adrian Molloy
Mentor: Nelson Fernandez
Shiki Sai Ken, dance & light collaboration
Choreographer Melissa Todd
Photographer Keiko Ikeuchi

1995
Drive-In’
Choreographers Sarah Bishop and Nickely Burke
Mentor Yael Flexer