Today@Sam Article
Dana Nicolay Honored with 2025 Legacy Award
June 20, 2025
SHSU Media Contact: Campbell Atkins
By Julia May
Sam Houston State University Professor Emeritus of Dance Dana Nicolay has been named the recipient of the 2025 SHSU College of Arts and Media (CAM) Legacy Award.
The award is presented annually in recognition of individuals whose outstanding career accomplishments and arts service have built a legacy for SHSU students. It was established by former Dean Ronald E. Shields in 2018.
This is the latest recognition for Nicolay by SHSU. The atrium in the James and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center (GPAC) as well as an endowed scholarship were recently named in his honor.
"Dana Nicolay represents the epitome of what it means to be a true artist,” said interim CAM Dean Mia Long Anderson. “His work has enriched the international stage, and his legacy is still being built among students who walk throughout the atrium named in his honor."
Nicolay’s passion for dance and scholarship has inspired students, educators and professional performers for nearly half a century. His creativity, leadership, commitment and enthusiasm have led to numerous advancements in both the dance program at SHSU and the performing arts tradition.
Under his direction, the dance program was consistently recognized for outstanding choreography and performance by the National Dance Festival at The Kennedy Center.
He made significant contributions to the architectural design of the 91,976-square foot GPAC, which was named one of the 25 Most Amazing Arts Centers in the United States by College Degree Search in 2015. It features an 800-seat concert hall, a 150-seat dance theater and a 175-seat recital hall, along with rehearsal studios, practice rooms and production spaces.
Before his retirement in 2020, Nicolay served 33 years as a member of the SHSU dance faculty, including seven as the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. He was the first interim dean for the emerging College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication and led the initial strategic planning for the separation of the visual and performing arts programs from the College of Arts and Sciences. Later, he spearheaded the move to establish the Dance Department as independent of the Department of Theatre and Dance.
Prior to earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in dance from Texas Christian University, Nicolay performed throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Houston Ballet, Contemporary Dancers Canada and Space/Dance/Theatre. He was a member of the Huntsville Arts Commission for a decade, serving as chairman for three years. He also served on the Wynne Home Arts Center management committee and chaired the Huntsville Cultural District Steering Committee.
His choreography has been recognized for excellence by the American College Dance Festival Association, the Mid-America Dance Network and Regional Dance America. His work Sabachthani was selected for the National College Dance Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
In 2014, he founded Nicolay Dance Works, a company of young dancers from SHSU. In addition to providing participating students applicable experience beyond the classroom, Nicolay wanted to bring approachable dance to Huntsville’s growing artistic community. The company has performed in several settings in the Houston area and brought “A Wynne Home Nutcracker” Christmas performance to Huntsville as an immersive experience for guests on the grounds of the historic Wynne Home Arts Center.
Nicolay was also instrumental in the renaming of the SHSU Dance Theater in memory of Dr. Mary Ella “Monty” Montague on October 11, 2024.
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