Nikki Turner
Nikki Giovanni Dublin-Turner is a Raleigh, NC native with a lifelong passion for the arts, dance, education, and advocacy. She holds a BS in Business Administration with a Marketing concentration from Saint Augustine’s University and a BA in Dance from Meredith College.
Arts Together is proud to announce Nikki’s promotion to Director of Community Arts Programs. As a dance educator, advocate, and activist, Nikki has long fostered creativity, inclusivity, empowerment, and cultural representation through the arts. In her new role, she will expand the reach of Arts Together’s mission beyond the organization’s four walls, cultivating partnerships and leading initiatives that connect people, the arts, and community through accessible, inclusive, and culturally responsive programming.
As a multi-arts teaching artist, Nikki continues to lead movement-based and interdisciplinary arts experiences for learners of all ages throughout the community. Guided by a deep love for people, creativity, and community connection, her work centers on using the arts as a bridge that brings individuals and communities together. In the spirit of Sankofa, she facilitates programs supporting individuals navigating trauma, promoting mental health awareness, engaging senior citizens, and creating inclusive spaces for individuals with special needs.
Rooted deeply in her community, Nikki also works with Wake County Schools Pre-K programs through VSA, a program of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts that ensures people with disabilities have access to the arts. Her transformative methods have inspired fellow educators to embrace more inclusive and responsive teaching practices and have helped broaden conversations around accessibility in arts education.
Nikki has performed with Rainbow Dance Company, Black Box Dance Theater, and 2 Near The Edge. In 2020, she made her theater debut portraying Lillian in ACCORD(ing), an immersive piece directed by Vieve Radha Price and Bronwen Carson. This experience led to her most recent role in Being Chaka, which debuted in March 2025 at Burning Coal Theatre Company and ran for three consecutive weeks, totaling twelve performances, with many nights selling out the house.
Above all, Nikki’s most cherished role is that of Mama and Nana. She enjoys visiting quaint towns, spending time with family and friends, exploring nature, biking, and traveling. She believes the arts are a powerful connector, capable of bringing people together, strengthening communities, and ensuring that everyone has a place in the creative story.
