Draft:Nicole Inica Hamilton

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Nicole Inica Hamilton

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Nicole Inica Hamilton at the Toronto Distillery District - 2025 - Photography by Hal Banfield

Nicole Inica Hamilton (Born March 19, 1973) is an award winning Canadian choreographer, dance educator, radio host, singer, actress and counsellor. Regarded as an influential voice in dance, Hamilton is noted for creating, and producing dance works, and conversation spaces which examine and explore the human condition, healing practices, and global social issues. She is the host and producer of the widely broadcasted Turn Out Radio show which airs on CIUT 89.5 FM, Bell Fibe TV, and Rogers Cable TV, and is the founder of the Toronto based dance company, Inica Dance Industries.

Nicole Inica Hamilton
Born March 19, 1973 (age 52)

Montreal, Quebec

Occupation Choreographer · dance educator · radio host · singer · actress · counsellor
Years active 1978 – present
Relatives Adria Kain (cousin)

Lady Pearl (cousin) K-OS (cousin)

Early life & career beginnings

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Hamilton was born on March 19th, 1973, in Montreal, Canada. She is the second of 5 children born to Juliet Eastlyn Hamilton (née Brereton; January 4, 1946 – March 25, 2023) and Trevor Clidan Hamilton (Born March 19, 1941). Hamilton’s mother who was a college professor at Mohawk College and teacher at Tenet Healthcare was the co-founder of the acclaimed Burlington Multicultural Waterfront Fete, (formerly the Burlington Multicultural Festival). Hamilton's father is a former welder and mechanic. Both of her parents were born in the republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

As a toddler, Hamilton lived in Montreal, Quebec, and eventually moved to Burlington, Ontario where she was raised for the majority of her adolescent years with her two younger sisters (Janelle and Natanya) and younger brother (Clidan). Her older sister (whose name is unknown) was born in 1972 but passed away several hours after birth. Hamilton is the cousin of calypso artist Lady Pearl (Sheila Brereton Robinson), the cousin of Canadian rhythm and blues singer Adria Kain, and the cousin of Canadian alternative rapper, singer, songwriter and producer, K-os.

Hamilton attended Frontenac Public School, and Nelson High School where she was involved in vocal, musical theatre, and drama clubs, appearing onstage in school musicals, and artist showcases. In the mid to late 90’s Hamilton attended the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, where she studied English and psychology, at George Brown college where she studied counselling advocacy in the school of social and community services. Hamilton is a Canadian counsellor and actively works in the field of dance health and science.

Dance career

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Nicole Inica Hamilton - 1990s capture - Ottawa Dance Academy

At the age of 5 years old, Hamilton began training at Bodrug’s Burlington Dance Company (Formerly Cheryl Bodrug’s Burlington Dance Company) where she studied tap, jazz, ballet, and hip-hop for many years under the artistic direction of Cheryl Bodrug. Her dance education continued in the years that followed at Dancer’s Burlington (formerly Dancer’s Inc.) under the artistic direction of Alana Turner, and Ottawa Dance Academy under the direction of Carole Ann Piccinin where she was both on faculty, and a student studying tap, jazz, ballet, and contemporary dance contexts.

During the 80’s and 90’s Hamilton performed, and competed in festivals, and competitions across Canada. In 1991, she became a certified dance educator with Dance Masters of Canada, a division of Dance Masters of America, and pursued a teaching career working on faculty at companies in the years that followed some of which included Ottawa Dance Academy, Studio de danse Danielle (Aylmer Quebec), Beachers Arts Center (Toronto, Ontario), DOAHL Dance Academy (Stouffeville, Ontario), Bridgeway Services (Toronto, Ontario), and Quest Sports Academy under the direction of Canadian Olympian, Donna Smellie Clarke. Hamilton has worked as a guest teacher at George Brown College, University of Toronto, York University, Calgary University, the Toronto District School Board, and Durham District School Board, and has toured as a guest teacher across Canada, the U.S, and to Johannesburg, South Africa. From 1998 – 2007 Hamilton was a dancer with the Caribbean Folk Performers in Toronto. In 2011 she was commissioned to be a director of dance programming at JITC, one of Canada’s largest faith-based organizations. In 2011, Hamilton founded Inica Dance Industries, a space where she endeavored to share dance education programming, and creative works. In 2018, she was invited to be a choreographer on the initiative Dance2Change the World: A movement to unite people through dance, celebrating diversity, peace, and healing.

Hamilton has choreographed 4 stage musicals including Private Pain in Public Pews (Kaleo Productions), Pieces of Me (Promise Productions), The Singers (JB Productions), and To Jane with Love (Promise Productions).

Hamilton’s work in dance health and science has extended to college and university networks. She is a longstanding counsellor on the wellness team at Ballet Jörgen Canada, and a board member with Healthy Dancer Canada.

Singer and voice acting

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Nicole Inica Hamilton with filmmaker Vikram Dasgupta - 2024 Fall for Dance North Gala Toronto

In the early 90’s Hamilton made her television debut singing on the Burlington Teen Talent show. It was during her teens that she became a soprano member of the Nelson Jazz group Beyond Reason. Hamilton is a former soprano member of the Ottawa gospel choir, Voices of Praise and sung on stages, and live television broadcasts with the choir during the mid 90’s. She is a former soprano member of Kingdom Gate Equipping Centre’s Distinctly Annointed. In the mid to late 90’s she was a back-up singer for her sister Natanya Hamilton, then known as rapper Double T.

Hamilton is a voice actor and has voiced commercial ads for film, and organizations including CaribbeanTales International Film Festival, Summerfolk Festival, WaterDocs Film Festival, Amnesty International, Nia Centre, and Hart House.

Broadcasting (Radio, podcasts & stage)

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Nicole Inica Hamilton with Legendary Tap Dancer Joey Hollingsworth - 2024 - Dance Collection Danse Hall of Fame Ceremony

In 2014 Hamilton joined CIUT 89.5 FM radio as a co- host on the Evi-Dance Radio show produced by Ted Fox. She was a host on the show until it’s close in 2015. In 2015, she joined the Career Buzz Show on 89.5 FM produced by Mark Franklin. In 2016, Hamilton was promoted to producer at CIUT 89.5 FM. Alongside co-producers Malgorzata Nowacka-May, and Samara Thompson, they together founded the Turn Out Radio Show which continues to air to present day on CIUT 89.5 FM, Bell Fibe TV, Rogers Cable TV, and across multiple podcast platforms. Hamilton is a previous volunteer account manager with Dance Channel TV, where she supported the work of their See Dance Network.

Hamilton is a co-host on the Fall for Dance North Mambo Podcast. In 2023, she was commissioned to host the AMANI Project interview series. Created and managed by Right Path World Arts Director Kai ner Maa Pitanta and Timea Wharton-Suri, the AMANI Project shares intergenerational wisdom among African Diasporic artists while creating an archive of their contributions to the cultural fabric of the world.

Hamilton has hosted, led live audience broadcasts, panel talks, and has moderated conversations across Canada for such organizations as TO Live, Harbourfront Centre and Theatre Passe Murraille. She is the in- house moderator for the Dora Mavor Moore award winning organization dance Immersion.

Nicole Inica Hamilton with Canadian film and theatre director, Weyni Mengesha - 2023 - Da Kink in my Hair TO Live interview

Hamilton is a passionate advocate for the collective curation of care centered spaces for all bodies, and conversations which ignite and support holistic healing. She has covered broadcast conversations and presented talks with organizations such as Safe in Dance International, the Performing Arts Medicine Association, Royal Academy of Dance, Healthy Dancer Canada, YENSA Festival, Toronto Dance Teacher Expo, and ADAPT (Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers). Hamilton is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Personal life

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Hamilton in 2025 during a Toronto photo session with E.S.Chea Photography

Hamilton was raised Christian, and has been a member of inner city church choirs, and liturgical dance teams. She has been a guest teacher at faith based organizations such as Wanda Roberson Ministries, JITC, and Toronto Mass Choir, and continues to work as a dance ministry counsellor and supporter to present day.

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Choreography commissions

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 TD Bank Corporate Parody music video (Broadview Productions) Choreographer Commercial
2011 Anointed Choreographer Musical
2012 Private Pain in Public Pews (Kaleo Productions) Choreographer Musical
2013 Pieces of Me(Promise Productions) Choreographer Musical
2014 The Singers Choreographer Musical
2016 Canada Glass Awards Choreographer Awards Ceremony
2016 To Jane with Love(Promise Production) Scene Choreographer Toronto Fringe Festival, Mid-Town International Theatre Fest New York
2018 Dance2Change the World Choreographer

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
2018 "At Heart” Herself Docu-film
2021 “New Monuments” Counsellor Short film
2021 “Tessel” Herself / Facilitator Short film

Television and radio appearances

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  • Ottawa Voices of Praise telethon
  • Caribbean Calendar (mid-late 90’s)
  • 100 Huntley Street, YES TV (October, 2018)
  • Radio Today Johannesburg 1485 AM (October, 2015)
  • WMCS 1290 Urban Milwauke (2009)
  • 106.9 FM the X-London (2021)
  • Radio Recall, CIUT 89.5 FM (June, 2023)

References

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