Born in Greece, Diana Nicastro grew up in New York where she studied formal classical ballet technique at the Harkness Ballet School under the direction of her mentor David Howard. She has trained at the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance in Manhattan and the Boston Conservatory of Music and Boston Ballet. She received her Dance Teaching Certification through the University of Surrey (England) in association with the Royal Academy of Dance.
Diana is a Certified Teacher for (ABT) American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum in Pre-Primary through Level Three. She has completed the Perfect Form Physiotherapy Dance Teacher & Practitioner Training Course with Lisa Howell. Diana is also trained in the Progressing Ballet Technique Program with Marie Walton-Mahon and teaches the American Academy of Ballet Program in San Diego.
Diana is a dedicated, creative and patient instructor that has a special way of connecting with and engaging her students. Over the past 25 years she has shared her passion and extensive knowledge of modern, contemporary and classical ballet with countless students in the San Diego region.
In addition to teaching at North County Dance Arts, she is also on the faculty of other dance schools in San Diego area. Diana was a former Teaching Artist for the Malashock Dance School Educational Out-Reach and In-Reach Creative Dance Programs for Children; specializing in contemporary classes for students of all abilities. She was also on the faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts, where she taught Adult Ballet and created the Childrens' Ballet Program. She was a former faculty member and Branch Manager of the California Ballet School, and The Pointe Loma School of Classical Ballet.
Diana was the 2010 recipient of the KIT (Kids Included Together) "Rising Star Award" for her work with inclusion of children with disabilities. She has since presented national Workshops and Webinars for KIT with a focus on creating movement opportunities for children of all ages and abilities. She has also been part of a KIT team that created nationally recognized inclusion standards and benchmarks.