Nikki Assanti is the Founder and Artistic Director of Nikki and the Noise. She is a dance artist, administrator, and yoga instructor. Nikki is an Associate Director of Cora Dance, leading the Cora Dance Brooklyn team. In her role, she dances for Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance's professional company, teaches all levels of Modern Dance and dance for Seniors, and directs the Modern Cora Youth Companies in addition to working to oversee the work of the CDB administrative team and production team.

Her choreographic work with Nikki and the Noise has been shown in NYC venues such as Arts on Site, The Cherry Lane Theatre, Cora Dance, Creative Cultural Center at St. Veronica’s Church, Gallim Dance, Green Space, and Triskelion Arts. Nikki has performed in works by Brit Falcon, Digital Movement Dance, JACKS, Joanna Mendl Shaw, Raja Feather Kelly, and Shannon Hummel. Nikki has been awarded choreographic residencies at the University of Florida, The Harn Museum of Art, The Historic Masonic Theatre, and Cora Dance and has been a guest speaker at the University of Southern Maine. Nikki also teaches on faculty at Open Arts Studio. She received her BFA in Dance from the University of Florida, and is a 200 hour registered yoga instructor.