Quick Facts
Biography
Nelly van Bommel is a choreographer, teacher, and director whose work has been performed internationally. She is the artistic director of NØA Dance, and works as the Interim Director of Dance at the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College.
Career
Nelly van Bommel is a choreographer of French origin and Dutch descent. She was born in Senlis, Picardie, in France. Her company, NØA Dance, features work that blends humor, athleticism, and theatricality into an all-encompassing experience. Her work has been performed in France, Taiwan, Canada, and the U.S.
Nelly van Bommel's work has garnered critical acclaim. She was on Dance Magazine's "25 to Watch" list in 2010, her work described as "choreography [that] magically teeters between tragedy and comedy, classical and folk, serenity and wildness". She has won awards such as the 1st Jury prize from the Genesis International Choreographic Competition organized by the Milwaukee Ballet in 2007, and 1st Jury Prize from the biennial competition New American Talent/Dance hosted by Ballet Austin in 2010. In 2007 she was also finalist at the A.W.A.R.D Show in NYC.
Van Bommel's residencies include Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, Western Michigan University Department of Dance in collaboration with DanceWorks Chicago, and the Baryshnikov Arts Center. She has been a guest teacher at the Taipei National University of the Arts and an emerging choreographer at Springboard Danse Montreal. She has also choreographed work for the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College.
NØA Dance’s most recent production, JOE, premiered at Mark Morris Dance Center in the fall of 2016. The Baryshnikov Arts Center produced NØA Dance's spring season in 2012, resulting in Pinguli, Pinguli. She has also choreographed two full length ballets for Ballet Austin; Hansel and Gretel in 2012 for the second company (Ballet Austin II), and Snow White in 2013 for the first company.
Van Bommel moved to the US in 2002 thanks to a fellowship from the Conseil Régional d'lle de France. Upon completion of the MFA dance program at Purchase College, she was awarded an Outstanding MFA Graduate Award for excellence.
She currently works as the Interim Director of Dance in the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College, State University of New York. She is also currently on faculty at Purchase College, teaching composition and improvisation.