Ms. Diana Nicastro

Born in Greece, Diana Nicastro grew up in New York where she studied classical ballet technique at the Harkness Ballet School under the direction of David Howard; she trained at the Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance and The Boston Conservatory of Music. Diana received her Dance Teaching Certification through the University of Surrey, England, in association with the Royal Academy of Dance.

Diana is a certified Instructor who completed the (ABT) American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum for Levels Pre-Primary through 5. She holds a full teaching membership with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD).  She is a PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) certified instructor and trained with PBT Founder Marie Walton-Mahon. In addition, she is a certified Perfect Form Physiotherapy Dance Teacher and trained with founder Lisa Howell.

Diana is a dedicated, creative, and patient instructor; for the past 35 years she has shared her extensive knowledge of classical ballet, modern and contemporary dance with countless students of all ages in the San Diego region.

Diana is also a teaching artist at Inspired Movement Dance and West Coast Dance Complex in North County, San Diego. She was an instructor and Branch Manager with the California Ballet School, instructor with Academy of Performing Arts, Del Mar Ballet, Pacific Arts Dance Center, North County Dance Arts,  Scripps Performing Arts, and Malashock Dance as Educational Out-Reach and In-Reach Creative Dance Programs for Children; specializing in inclusive contemporary and creative movement classes. 

Diana was the 2010 National Recipient of the KIT (Kids Included Together) Rising Star Award. She has presented Workshops and Webinars for KIT with a focus on creating movement opportunities for children of all ages and abilities. She has been part of the team that created nationally recognized inclusion standards and benchmarks. Diana has worked and taught within the San Diego Public Schools VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts) framework for grades K thru 12.