Ep 41: Nikki Belsher, professional performer, West End director and resident choreographer.

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Nikki Belsher was trained at the Jeannine Greville Dancing Academy.

At 11 she made her West End debut in the musical Annie at the Victoria Palace. By the time she was 15 she had followed this with two further seasons in Annie, a season with Kids International at the Dominion and the leading role of Morgana in Tin Pan Ali at the Edinburgh Fringe.

She left school at 16 to join the cast of 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, where she understudied both female leads - Peggy Sawyer and Anytime Annie - and remained there for two years. Nikki left 42nd Street having already started rehearsals for Cats playing the part of Jemima and understudying Jellylorum and Gumbie Cat.

Her other credits include: Pearl in ‘Starlight Express’ (Australasia Tour), Ensemble in ‘Can Can’ (Strand Theatre), ‘Ashley’ and Dance Captain in ‘Starlight Express’ (Apollo Victoria), ‘Sue’ and Dance Captain  in ‘A Slice of Saturday Night’ (UK Tour), Ensemble in ‘Carousel’ (National Theatre), ‘Candi’ in ‘Oh What a Night’ (Opera House, Blackpool), Ensemble in ‘Fame’ (Scandinavian Tour), ‘Marty’ in ‘Grease’ (Scandinavian tour), ‘Delores’/’Miss Cashdime’ in ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (National Theatre), Ensemble and Dance Captain in ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (UK Tour), ‘Nickie’ in ‘Sweet Charity’ (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield), Barelli Sister in ‘The Rat Pack’ (Haymarket Theatre), ‘Sheila Bryant’ in ‘A Chorus Line’ (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield).

Nikki assisted Peter Darling on the choreography for the original West End production of ‘Billy Elliot the Musical’ in London. She then joined Peter in New York to stage the show on Broadway, after which, she then re-joined the show in the West End as Resident Choreographer.

Nikki also assisted Peter with the choreography of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, the Musical, which opened in the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London.

More recently she has worked with Peter as Tap Dance Advisor for the West End and Broadway Productions of ‘Groundhog Day’, and the workshop for the Broadway Production of ‘

She has also been Resident Director for ‘Rainbow Rocks, My Little Pony Musical’ (Asia Tour 2016). Resident Director/Choreographer on ‘Me and My Girl’ (UK tour), ‘Footloose the Musical’ (UK tour and Playhouse Theatre in the West End), ‘The Rat Pack live from Las Vegas’ (Haymarket and Strand (now Novello) Theatres.)

Nikki's TV appearances include:  ‘Agony’ (Live TV), ‘2.4 Children’ (BBC), ‘Dramarama’ (ITV), ‘Campion’ (ITV), ‘The Eurovision Song Contest’, 1991.

Nikki is an adjudicator for DWC. She has taught guest workshops at home and Internationally.