Director Nancy Mittleman, has been training dancers from preschool to professional for over 40 years. Mittleman specializes in developing both technical expertise, stylistic versatility and individuality in the dancers she trains. For the littlest dancers, NSAM offers fun creative movement that incorporates basic ballet and modern dance, fun choreography, and an introduction to dance terminology. Dancers then progress through leveled classes aimed at increasing grace, flexibility, balance and strength. NSAM classes focus mainly on ballet and modern dance techniques, but also incorporate jazz and African dance, Pilates, Qigong and yoga. Classes provide both fun and inspiring recreation, and the opportunity to train pre professionally for those wishing to pursue a career in dance.

Mittleman is known for her holistic approach to dance, integrating science, art, literature, music, math and much more into her lessons and choreography. Mittleman states, “All classes include improvisations or “dance games”, which increase student’s awareness of the power of “body language”, while enriching and developing their creativity, acting abilities and choreographic skills.” Additionally, improvisation exercises encourage students to work collaboratively and help to develop problem solving and leadership skills. Variations from famous choreographers are also incorporated into the curriculum. Mittleman explains, “Classes are designed to develop the student’s technical skills and spark their creativity through a process of exploration and discovery.”

Students of NSAM have gone on to study and perform at Juilliard (NYC), Mark Morris Dance Group (NYC), The Jose Limon Dance (NYC), Chris Elam’s Misnomer Dance Co. (NYC), Coyote Dance (NYC), Martha Graham Studio (NYC), Amanda Selwyn Dance (NYC), The Laban School (London, UK), Ballet Austin (TX), San Francisco Ballet (CA), San Diego Dance Theater (CA), Eugene Ballet (OR), Pacific Northwest Ballet (WA), Paco Gnomes and Co. (CA), Requisite Dance (CA), Lineage Dance Co. (CA), Headwaters Dance Co, (MT), Dancer’s Workshop (WY), Interlochen (MI), Tisch at New York University (NY), Cornish Institute for the Arts (WA), California Institute for the Arts (CA).