Founder and Artistic Director of Nolte Academy, Leslie Nolte has emerged as an innovator in arts education
and movement in the Iowa City community for nearly two decades. Under her direction, Nolte Academy
has become a premiere arts program with 30 specialized instructors and 1,100 students.
In addition to teaching dance to children ages 18 months to 18 years, Ms. Nolte also devotes time to
those with Parkinson’s disease during a weekly chair-based exercise class. The class focuses on low
impact aerobic movement, strengthening muscles and maintaining balance with the ultimate goal of
enhancing lives.
Ms. Nolte is also a guest lecturer at The University of Iowa Tippie College of Business. Ms. Nolte is a busy
mom of five who also finds time to act in local theatre, teach Pilates at her studio, support various arts
endeavors and deepen her personal yoga practice.