Niya Nicholson is a celebrated leader dedicated to championing opportunity access, building impactful businesses, and advancing creative careers. A Harlem native and Vassar graduate, Niya’s mission is to propel visionary creatives and institutions toward their next level of impact. As the founding Executive Director of MOVE|NYC|, she has spent a decade scaling the organization into a renowned civic arts nonprofit recognized for “Changing the Face of Dance.” This commitment to equity and excellence continues through NOWNEXT by NN, her consultancy where she equips artists and organizations with the strategic resources and operational roadmaps necessary to deepen their purpose and expand their possibilities. Recently named a 2025 Nonprofit Power Player by Politics NY and amNY, Niya’s leadership is widely recognized by premier institutions, including the American Express, OneCause, Dance/USA, Dance/NYC, International Association of Blacks in Dance, and New York Foundation for the Arts.

Niya’s career began in leadership roles with premier dance organizations. Niya served as Development Manager at Gibney Dance, where she was part of a 3-person team that led a successful $1M+ capital campaign resulting in 6 new high-tech studios and the first-ever elevator at 280 Broadway, and as the Director of Development at the José Limón Dance Foundation. Before the launch of MOVE|NYC| in 2015, Niya was the organization’s sole volunteer administrator and was promoted to founding Executive Director in 2023, expanding its operating budget from $25K to $1.7M and its programmatic reach to D.C. and Scotland. MOVE|NYC| celebrated its 10th Anniversary milestone in 2025, marking Niya’s tenth year (and counting) with the organization.

Niya has a longstanding relationship with Dance/NYC, including being an inaugural member of the Symposium Programming Committee and Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Harassment. She was Co-Chair of the 2017–18 Dance/NYC Junior Committee, where she co-founded a Mentorship Program and implemented anti-racism training. Niya has contributed to Dance/NYC’s Symposiums as a featured speaker and a two-time SMART Bar Consultant. In 2024, Niya served as the Program Consultant for Dance/NYC’s 4th iteration of the Dance Advancement Fund, where she supported the program’s development and led webinars and one-on-one technical assistance for applicants, awarding nearly 30 grants to dance-making organizations and groups. In 2025-26, Niya returned to Dance/NYC as a Grantmaking Consultant and as Program Consultant for their 5th iteration of the Dance Advancement Fund. Additional grantmaking experience includes the New York State Council on the Arts and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.