Meet Nicole McCall

I discovered swing dancing in 1998 as a way to meet people, and I never stopped.

These days I'm out dancing multiple times a week — swing, salsa, bachata, tango, blues — still just as hooked as I was that first night.

That's the feeling I want for you, too. Because the best dancers aren't the ones who know the most steps — they're the ones who connect. To the music, so it feels natural instead of memorized. To their partner, so you both feel comfortable enough to just let go and have fun.

I have a real gift for putting nervous beginners at ease, and years of teaching in Portland-area schools taught me to explain things a dozen different ways until they click. So if you're convinced you "just can't dance" — I've heard that before, and I love proving it wrong.

Professional Credits

  • Founder and Teaching Artist, Dance Your Heart Out® LLC — Beaverton, OR

    2001–Present
    Creative dance residencies and teacher professional development in K-8 classrooms, plus adult partner dance classes for beginners.

  • Teaching Artist (Roster), Arts for Learning Northwest / The Right Brain Initiative — Portland Metro Area · 2017–Present
    Standards-aligned creative dance residencies in K-8 classrooms; contributed a published module to Oregon's Arts, Care & Connection collection.

  • Group Fitness Instructor, Youth Athletics, Nike — Beaverton, OR

    2020–2021
    Led group fitness and movement classes for youth athletes at Nike's world headquarters.

  • Outreach Director and Creative Dance Instructor, BodyVox — Portland, OR

    2016–2018
    Built the education outreach program to record size, from curriculum to staffing to studio classes.

  • Dance Masters of America, Teachers Training School — SUNY Buffalo, NY
    2011–2015
    Certified by examination to teach ballet, tap, modern, and jazz.

  • Owner and Director, Northwest Conservatory of Dance — Hillsboro, OR

    2004–2008
    Grew the studio to 30 classes per week, 175+ students, and 12 staff in four years.