About Us
"A Place for Arts Equality for All"
Mark Anthony Nichols
Founding Director + Choreographer + Dancer
Mark Anthony Nichols was born, raised and educated in Tucson, Arizona. He started off his ballet training at the age of five at Stars of Tucson. At the age of seven his mother placed him at Academy of Ballet to continue his training. In spring 2006, Mr. Nichols won the student of the year award from Academy of Ballet, served on the staff as a teaching assistant and dedicated main years to Tucson Regional Ballet’s Junior and Senior Company. After high school Mr. Nichols was accepted to the University of Arizona Dance Program. During his time at the University of Arizona, he was cast in the department’s reconstruction of Balanchine’s Rubies, held the principle role of Male Demon in James Clouser’s Carmina Burana.
Mark had the chance to represent the Univerisity of Arizona in multiple productions with Arizona Opera Company, as well as the collaborations with the University of Arizona Threatre Department. While attending college Mr. Nichols studied History, Dance and Disability Studies and Rehabilitation focusing on Child development. During his years studying with the University of Arizona Dance Department Mr. Nichols guest starred as a principle dancer; at Academy of Dance in Tucson, Arizona, Ballet Rincon, BC Dance, Creative Dance Arts, and Pima Community College. After walking the graduation stage, Mark became Mr. Mark when he started working for the City of Tucson Parks and Recreation in Fall 2013. Mr. Nichols has directed, choreographed and produced the dance sections for Parks and Recreation Summer Program productions and City of Tucson Fall Festivals. In 2016, he produced, directed and starred in the Arizona Arts Conservatory and Collections first city wide ballet collaboration with dancers from the University of Arizona Dance Department, member of Creative Dance Arts and Ballet Rincon’s local trainee programs, the generation of ballerina from Park and recreation dance program and local actors from the Tucson Community to present Sleeping Beauty the Ballet. In fall 2016, Mr. Nichols presented North America in the United of the Arts Conference in Mexico, as well as created the Arizona Arts Conservatory and Collective’s first production of the Nutcracker ballet with the support, love and kindness of the AACC friends and families!
Alan Gonzalez
Co-Artistic Director + Graphic Artist + Choreographer + Dancer
Alan is originally from Tucson, Arizona, but was raised in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. As someone who grew up in a border town, Alan gained the perspective to develop art from two different and contrasting countries. Since childhood, he found a strong passion for art in all aspects. During high school, Alan created extracurricular drawing and painting classes for his school in Mexico. He then added dance classes that later became the official "Grupo de Danza" of his school. While still in high school, he started performing for EXNO Dance, where he was the coordinator and choreographer of the group at Nogales, Sonora. During the same period of time, he found his passion for photography and the digital graphic arts. Gonzalez has been recognized several times as a leader and promoter of the culture of art and dance in Nogales, Arizona, Nogales, Sonora and Tucson.
Alan continued to further his art and dance education at Pima Community College where he collaborated directly with the director of the dance department, Aurora Goncalves-Shaner and Carol Carder in charge of marketing & PR Coordinator. After earning an Associates degree in Arts and Graphic design, Alan became a dancer in Artifact Dance Project, for “The Great American Dance Tour” in China. After Alan’s participation in Artifact Dance Project, he started working for Kim Robard's dance company in Denver, Colorado as a full-time company member during 2012-2013 season. His painting and digital skills gave him the opportunity to become the artistic marketing director of Kim Robards Dance while continuing to dance as a company member. Gonzalez had the opportunity to work with contemporary ballet choreographer David Taylor and his company Zikr in Denver, Colorado. Alan was accepted into The University of Arizona dance program in the fall 2014 and he was part of the cast for "The Unsung" by Jose Limon and travel to NYC to perform in the Jose Limon International Dance Festival 70th Anniversary at the Joyce Theatre in the fall of 2015. During his last year at the University, Gonzalez was cast to perform Ohad Naharin master pieces. Alan is excited to be part of The AACC and do more to help children of the Tucson community to express themselves throughout arts.
