Caroline Copeland-Nizam

Caroline Copeland-Nizam serves as Lecturer of Dance at the State University of New York at Purchase within the Conservatory of Dance, and as Assistant Adjunct Professor at Hofstra University where she teaches ballet from a historical perspective, contemporary dance, and dance histories. She is also Associate Director of The New York Baroque Dance Company and a featured artist with the Boston Early Music Festival.

Her educational background includes an MFA in Dance from Sarah Lawrence College and a BA from Goucher College.

• MFA in Dance - Sarah Lawrence College
• BA - Goucher College

As a leading specialist in early ballet and historical performance practice, Copeland-Nizam's work bridges academic scholarship and professional performance. Her research focuses on 16th-19th century dance practices with particular emphasis on baroque forms, historical context, and the intersection of dance with social history. She has developed educational programs exploring George Washington's relationship to dance, Shakespearean movement practices, and the African presence in colonial ballrooms through her work on Ignatius Sancho.

Copeland-Nizam maintains an active performance career collaborating with prestigious early music ensembles including Merz Trio, The New Dutch Academy, Cantata Profana, and Juilliard415. Her choreographic works have been presented at significant venues such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Public Theater, Alice Tully Hall, and international festivals including the Innsbruck Early Music Festival.

As an educator, she teaches master classes at major institutions including Yale, Cornell, Juilliard, and Carnegie Hall, and has developed specialized programs for diverse populations including Dance for PD at MMDG. She regularly presents workshops on baroque dance forms at universities and schools nationwide, with notable programs including 'George Washington Loved to Dance' and 'Shakespeare and the Dance' for K-5 students.

Her current projects include research on Ignatius Sancho's contributions to 18th-century dance culture and developing educational content highlighting the African presence in colonial ballrooms. She maintains a weekly Baroque dance class on Zoom and consults with musical and theater groups across the United States.