Angjelina Nika

The brilliant Albania-born dancer and choreographer of the Rozafati Dance Ensemble makes moves that inspire the next generation.

Albanian folk dancing is more than about good moves—it’s a spiritual and cultural experience with significant historical roots. That’s why Angjelina Nika dedicates her life to teaching it. Season after season, year after year, she dutifully does her part in preserving the history, virtue, and sentiment, step-by-step, for the next generation. Nika—who was born in Tropojë, Albania, in June 1966— started dancing at age of 6 and she has yet to stop. She became a popular figure in Albanian society when she married the iconic Northern Albanian singer Gezim Nika. They met while performing at the Dardania Ensemble in Tropojë. The two immigrated to United States with their family and settled in New York in 1997 with hopes of pursuing their musical careers—and that’s just what Nika did.