about me

Nikki Santilli

I took my first dance class aged 3 and my first dance exam aged 4. Excruciatingly shy, I spent much of my childhood making up poems and stories and dances. To me, they were all the same. And, while life has led me on many twists and turns, I seem to have remained, fairly faithfully, on that single path where my young self felt most herself.

I have a doctorate in Prose Poetry. My book, Such Rare Citings: the prose poem in English Literature, is still the only full-length work on the topic.

I began to learn Lindy Hop, Balboa and Authentic Jazz in London in 2003, becoming a teaching and performance partner with Simon Selmon. I also worked with retired principal ballet dancer, Patrick Hood, on aerials and performance technique. Terry Monaghan (Jiving Lindy Hoppers) supported me in my enquiries into the history of Lindy Hop and other African American dances of the era. I edited his paper on the Savoy Ballroom.

Since 2012, I have been a solo teacher, specialising in Balboa & Solo Jazz.

I initiated the Community Stage at Bermondsey Street Festival & performed there annually. I created the live music, social dances, “Secret Salon” and “Paper Moon” in London.

I collaborate with other artists:

with Natalia Amy Douglas (singer) – Dream Dancing, performing at Old Fashioned & Paper Moon 2019/2020

with Jaime Robles (poet) – Passing Moments, performed at “In Other Tongues” conference, Dartington, 2017.

with Vahni Capildeo (poet) – Tripping the Light Plantastic performed at Chelsea Fringe Festival 2015

Publications

Such Rare Citings: the prose poem in English Literature (Fairleigh Dickinson UP, 2003)

“Harlem Dancer: movement & meaning in African American poetry and authentic jazz dance” paper delivered for 6th Seminar of Modern Angl0-American Poetry in Translation, University Of Udine (Dec, 2022)

“What is This Thing Called Swing? Roots, Myths and Narratives” paper delivered at “If It Ain’t Got That Swing” conference, Evangelische Akademie, Tutzing (Germany), June 2022

The History of Authentic Jazz Dance (2 parts) National Jazz Archive (2021)

“Prose Poetry & the Spirit of Jazz” in British Prose Poetry, ed Jane Monson (London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018)

“Marc Atkins’ The Logic of the Stairwell” in Marc Atkins, ed Michel Delville (Université de Liege, 2015)

Foreword to This Line is Not for Turning, ed Jane Monson, 2011

Articles for Dance Today

Editor:
Poetry International Web, 2006
SENTENCE: A journal of prose poetry, 2005

“The Wanderings of Cain” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Hypertext edition by Nikki Santilli, 2003

Theatre & Cabaret works

Journey Through Jazz (script & choreography), Artsdepot, 2010 & 2011

Tales from the Jazz Age (with Airlie Scott) concept, script & choreography, Youth Music Theatre, 2018.

Velma & Johnny, script & choreography, performer. Royston Ballroom 2018