Malia’Kekia Nicolini (‘O ia/she/they)
Malia’Kekia Nicolini (‘O ia/she/they) is kanaka maoli (Native Hawaiian), they received their inoa (name) traditionally from an inoa po (mothers dream) that held both an inoa ho’ailona (symbol) and their inoa ulaleo (ancestors voice). Malia’Kekia is an internationally touring actress and teaching artist who has dedicated the last seven years of her life to Play Exploration. ‘Oia is also a choreographer, artistic director, plant lover, speaker, stilt walker, arts curriculum designer, gratitude enthusiast and a vibrational activist. Malia’Kekia is the Co-Founder of B4 The Other Creations specializing in teaching Play based strategies for education and business. B4 The Other Creations travels throughout the US and internationally offering professional development and educational residencies. B4’s intimate work is led through movement, not lecture, and grounded in a Pedagogy of Play. As an interdisciplinary artist, ‘O ia weaves all her experience together to empower dreams and create beauty.
Malia’Kekia facilitated the Black & Indigenous Futures Convening with Howlround Theater Commons & ArtsEmerson. ‘O ia was honored to be a part of artEquity’s BIPOC Leadership Circle 22-23. As well as a member of the 2024 Arts & Cultural Organization Management (ACOM) program with American Repertory Theater at Harvard. BFA (Music Theater), InnerMBA (Conscious Leadership), attended the teachings of His Holiness The Dalai Lama at his home temple in Dharamshala, India (2018).
You can listen to Malia’Keka share about their pedagogy on “The OptiMYSTIC Podcast: Speaking our Olelo” produced by Isabel Mares and “Building Our Own Tables Podcast: From Perfectionism to Play”, hosted by Yura Sapi and produced by Howlround Theater Commons.
Malia’Kekia was thrilled to be the choreographer for FNOH residency 2024 with MOSIAC theatre in their current hometown of North Adams, MA. As an interdisciplinary artist, ‘O ia weaves all her experience together to empower dreams and create beauty. www.b4theother.com