Nina Madsen Puckett is a dancer, choreographer, licensed massage therapist and movement educator. In addition to being on the Creative Team of Oklahoma Movement with Jen Alden, she is also the director of Madsen Movement, and owner of Madsen Massage.

Nina is a Registered Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator, having received her registration in Somatic Movement Therapy through The International Somatic Movement Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA). She is also a Certified Movement Analyst, having received her education and certificate from the yearlong program at the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in NYC in 2006.

She graduated cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a BFA in Dance: Choreography and Performance in 2005 and an Associates of Occupational Studies in 2008 from the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences Massage Therapy Program in NYC. She also studied dance for two semesters abroad at arts conservatories that include the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Australia and Teatterikorkeakoulu (The Theatre Academy of Finland) in Helsinki in 2003 and 2004.

Nina is the founder of Erase the Stigma Through Dance, the advocacy program of Oklahoma Movement. In 2022, she presented “Changing Perceptions by Moving Minds: A Mental Health and Dance Symposium,” at the Tulsa Ballet, which featured keynoter, Guggenheim Fellow, and dance icon, Bill Evans.  She has appeared on various podcasts and interviews advocating for mental health awareness including the Deleware Dance Education Organization, The Dance Better Podcast, DIY Dancer in partnership with Okay Let’s Unpack This and the YouTube Channel, “Move for a Movement.”

Nina danced professionally in NYC from 2006-2009 with Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre and as a choreographer, Nina has presented her work internationally in Western Australia and nationally in New York City, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.

In a 2002 review of the American Dance Festival, dance critic Byron Woods wrote “the unforgettable flex of Ursula Payne’s Student, Nina Madsen, reminiscent of Gretchen Lothrop’s work.”  She lives in Coweta, Oklahoma with her husband Craig, son Caster Thomas, dogs Seymour and Emil and 7 chickens.