Patricia Nicholson is a dancer, poet, and organizer whose work spans movement, music, and social causes, with a focus on the spiritual and social responsibility of the free jazz and improvised arts. As a multi-disciplinary artist, she has dedicated much of her life to building and sustaining diverse, improvising communities. Nicholson is known for her collaborations, including Shamanic Principle with percussionist Val Jeanty, Knife & Rose with vocalists Ellen Christi and Jean Carla Rodea, and several projects with William Parker such as What It Is and Hope Cries for Justice. She is also the founder of Arts for Art and the Vision Festival, which advocates for free jazz and artists working in the genre. Nicholson’s work as a curator and organizer has influenced both the artistic community and social activism, including leading the Artist for a Free World marching band in 2017. Throughout her career, her choreography and stage productions, including her work on Parker’s opera Trail of Tears, have consistently sought to illuminate and engage audiences through dynamic, creative experiences.