Ilya Nikurov is a movement artist, teacher, and award-winning choreographer based in California. Born in Kemerovo, Russia, he studied modern and contemporary dance at multiple schools across the country, and in 2005 received an award from the Russian Ministry of Education for his self-choreographed solo performance.

From 2014 to 2023, Ilya was a dancer with Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (Israel), performing in Israel and internationally under the artistic direction of Rami Be'er. In 2018, he received the Yair Shapira Award for his contribution to contemporary dance in Israel.

Since 2021, Ilya has co-directed the collaborative dance project Outrun the Bear with his partner, Megan Doheny. Together they have performed and presented their work in Israel, the Netherlands, Portugal, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, the United States, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, and South Korea. Their work has been commissioned by organizations including the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company (South Korea), Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company (Israel), Open Space Dance (Portland, Oregon), Backhaus Dance (Orange County, California), and the Crush on Trash Foundation (Poland), with an upcoming commission from Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company (Salt Lake City, Utah).

Other highlights of his career include performing with Siberian Kaleidoscope (2004–2008), dancing with the Boroditsky Dennis Dance Company in Moscow, appearing with the Great Moscow Circus, and performing in various musical productions such as Romeo and Juliet and Notre Dame de Paris. He has also worked with choreographers including Ann Van den Broek, in whose work Kamera he was featured, performing in Russia and touring to The Hague, Netherlands, in 2012, as well as Eyal Dadon, Léa Bessoudo-Greck, Rosanna Gamson, and Jobel Medina.

Ilya is currently on faculty at Chapman University and Orange County School of the Arts.