Nicholas Schultz

Nicholas Schultz joined the Royal New Zealand Ballet as a Ballet Master in 2018.

Nicholas grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he began his dance studies at Grand Rapids Ballet School, under the direction of Charthel Arthur and Robert Estner. He was a member of both the Junior and Senior Trainee divisions, performing numerous productions alongside Grand Rapids Ballet. Nicholas also studied with the Joffrey Ballet for three summers, as well as under the direction of Sergio Stefanski at the National Ballet of Canada for a summer. 

In 2002, Nicholas joined Grand Rapids Ballet as an apprentice and was promoted to full company member in 2003. During his tenure with the company, he danced numerous leading and principal roles in ballets such as Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cinderella, and many more. Nick has danced many works by iconic choreographers such as George Balanchine, José Limón, Paul Taylor, Val Caniparoli, and Davis Parsons as well as working with contemporary choreographers such as Olivier Wevers, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Mário Radačovský, Penny Saunders, Robyn Mineko Williams, and Sagi Gross to name a few.  

From 2012-2016 Nicholas, alongside his wife Laura, was also the Artistic Director for Young People’s Ballet Theatre in Flint, Michigan, where he staged and choreographed many works for the company. Nick was also responsible for teaching and cultivating many young dancers, of which some have continued to professional careers. Nick and Laura also served as the choreographers and stage directors for Children’s Opera Workshop from 2012-2017. 

During his time at the RNZB, Nicholas has also co-created two family ballets with Laura, The Ugly Duckling in 2021 and Tāne and the Kiwi in 2022, for free family performances at Te Papa. Nicholas has also been onstage with the Company as the King in The Sleeping Beauty as well as Herr Drosselmeier in Val Caniparoli’s The Nutcracker. Together with Laura, he staged the RNZB’s production of Black Swan, White Swan by Mário Radačovský in 2019, as well as staging multiple new works for Tutus on Tour.  

Nicholas and Laura have two wonderful children, Arya and Ezra, and truly love their life in New Zealand.