As an LA native, Nina began studying gymnastics and dance at age three. She would continue to train at the Los Angeles School of Gymnastics (LASG) for 9 years in addition to studying Classical Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, and West African Dance. Her dance training began with her mother Karen McDonald and continued with other notable dance luminaries such as Yuri Grigoriev, Stefan Wenta, Ron Brown, Claude Thompson, Paul and Arlene Kennedy, and Nzingha Camara. At age twelve, Nina was introduced to director/choreographer Debbie Allen when she was hired as a young dancer and gymnast for the 63rd Annual Academy Awards.
Nina went on to attend Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA). It was during this period that she excelled under the tutelage of Don Hewitt, Rudy Perez, KaRon Brown-Lehman, Mary Bender, Don Bondi, and Hae-Kyung Lee. After graduating from LACHSA in 1997, Nina began honing her skills in Hip-Hop dance while obtaining a BA in Sociology with a Specialization in Communications from UCLA (2001).
During her senior year at UCLA, Nina was invited to join the faculty of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA) in Culver City, CA. Her relationship with DADA would extend over the next decade as a Contemporary, Hip-Hop, and Street Dance faculty member.
After graduating from UCLA, Nina relocated to Philadelphia to train with Rennie Harris, Artistic Director of the Philadelphia-based Hip-Hop company Rennie Harris Puremovement. She went on to tour both nationally and internationally with the Puremovement company for five years as a principal dancer. Nina continued her artistic relationship with Harris and assisted him in setting a collaborative original repertory work with Judith Jamison and Robert Battle entitled, “Love Stories” for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
In 2007, Nina began working with renowned dancer/choreographer and mentor, Toni Basil. She was hired by Basil as an assistant choreographer for Bette Midler's Las Vegas residency, The Showgirl Must Go On. Nina continued on as part of Basil's creative team for the 2008 Tina Turner 50th Anniversary Tour.
In 2011, Nina was again given the opportunity to work with The Ailey Company when she was invited by Rennie Harris to collaborate on an original Hip-Hop work, entitled “Home”.
In 2015, Nina reunited with Bette Midler’s creative team for The Divine Intervention Tour as Assistant Choreographer and Private Dance Coach to Ms. Midler. This was followed by a return to The Ailey Company as Rehearsal Director for Rennie Harris’ third Hip-Hop creation with the company, entitled “Exodus.”
In 2016, Nina was invited by David Dorfman to the Connecticut College Dance Department as visiting faculty to pilot the launch of their Hip-Hop Dance Studies program. Soon after, she returned to Los Angeles where she was joined the CalArts School of Dance faculty.
In Summer of 2018, Nina reunited with The Alvin Ailey Company as Rehearsal Director for Rennie Harris' "Lazarus”, the first hour-long, evening-length work in the company's history. In the Fall, she transitioned to full-time faculty at the CalArts School of Dance. She expanded her teaching role in addition to presenting original repertory works for the school's partnership with REDCAT Theatre. Nina had the honor of traveling to India on behalf of the CalArts School of Dance to broaden the school's international presence and develop exchange opportunities with dance artists in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata.
In May of 2021, she completed her fifth and final year as CalArts dance faculty where she created Technique, Composition, and Repertory courses in Hip-Hop and Contemporary Dance.
In January 2023, Nina joined the faculty of USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, teaching courses in Advanced Composition, Hip-Hop, House, and Dancehall Technique. In Spring of 2024, Nina took on an additional role as Kaufman Repertory & Performance faculty, premiering original work alongside Kyle Abraham, Bruce McCormick, Roderick George, Bret Easterling, Christopher Wheeldon, Luther Brown, and Mandi Moore. A work that was later premiered at Jacob’s Pillow. Nina was also voted into the Kaufman Faculty Council by her peers and continues to deepen her leadership role within the USC Kaufman community.
Nina has been on faculty at UCLA (World Arts & Culture Department) in addition to Cal Arts and Connecticut College, and has served as a guest artist and choreographer for the dance departments of Loyola Marymount University (LMU), University of Virginia (Charlottesville), and Bennington College (Vermont). She has worked with such artists as Prince, Tina Turner, Bette Midler, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, Will Smith, Chris Brown, Solange, and J Balvin. Her choreography has been featured on The Grammy Awards, The TV Land Awards, The 2015 Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies (ABC/ESPN), Gabby’s Dollhouse Dance DVD (Dreamworks/NBC), and Flight Path Dance Company (NYC). Her television appearances include The Oscars, The Today Show, MTV’s TRL, and Good Morning America. In Summer of 2021, Nina appeared in the documentary film “AILEY” by award-winning Director Jamila Wignot, which was released in theaters nationwide after its premiere at Sundance Film Festival.
Beyond the world of academia, Nina continues to expand her practice as a dancer, choreographer, and pedagogue, as well as a guest artist for organizations such as CLI Studios, L.A. Dance Project, and Center of Creative Arts (COCA) in St. Louis.
As a BIPOC Artist and Educator, Nina remains passionate about creating curricular strategies for equitable, multi-generational engagement in dance education and live performance.