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Nicki Cabaniss

Ms. Cabaniss has been on stage since the age of 3 when she was in her first ballet recital and played a robin. Since then, the theatre bug has always had a hold. Ms. Cabaniss has done all forms of dance from Ballet, lyrical, tap, jazz and Irish. She holds a B.A. in English with Theatre Endorsement and a Masters in the Arts of Teaching specialized in the Theatre and English classroom from James Madison University. Ms. Cabaniss is a fight choreographer and a member of the Society of American Fight Directors and a dance choreographer. She has also served as a lighting designer and producer for volunteer and hire throughout the community. Ms. Cabaniss's students have won multiple awards in the community and at State Conferences and she has been nominated multiple times for best direction as part of the NYA Awards as well as a nomination for Teacher of the Year in 2021. Ms. Cabaniss's is also a playwright and has produced two original shows with one show winning Best Storytelling at the Virginia Thespian Fesitval (2020) and her most recent play was named Best New Work as part of NYA Awards for 2020. Ms. Cabaniss also serves as a Vice Chair for the Secondary Division of The Virginia Theatre Association and as the One-Act Festival Chair for Virginia Thespians. Ms. Cabaniss has always wanted to be a teacher and served as Professor of English before taking over the Theatre program at John Champe in 2013.