NOT
JUST
ANOTHER DANCE STUDIO.
Open Space is a creative container for dance and movement where EVERY BODY is welcome. From community classes for adults, to professional training at our dance school, come embrace wonder, move freely, and explore your body in a judgment-free zone where curiosity is encouraged and play is the way.
Whether you have professional training or this is your first time at a studio, there is room for you to learn and grow at Open Space. You'll find mentorship, high caliber training in ballet, contemporary, jazz, and more all wrapped up in fun classes that let you embrace your authentic self.
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For our shows, we bring together great minds in contemporary dance for an interdisciplinary approach that harnesses the creativity of Portland artists from all backgrounds to create bold performances grounded in movement.
#BOLD
#HYPE
#ENERGY
“I would not think of it as a place, I would think of it as the people in the place.”
- Asher, The School at Open Space student
OUR STORY
Open Space was born out of a shared vision: to create a home for dance where EVERY body is welcome.
​In 2020, amid a world in flux, Franco Nieto, Charlene Hannibal, and Maeve Dougal came together to imagine a new kind of dance organization that was rooted in community, collaboration, and care. We called it Open Space.
Located in the heart of Portland’s Kenton neighborhood, Open Space is a nonprofit dance organization that nurtures dancers of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. What started as a dream between friends has become a thriving creative container where movement is used to connect, uplift, and transform.
Open Space contracts 6–8 professional dancers annually and presents four original productions each season. In 2023, we launched Open Space Too, a rigorous two-year program for advanced dancers aged 18+, offering immersive training alongside our company.
​​Our educational programs are central to who we are. The School at Open Space enrolls over 200 young dancers and offers $55,000+ in scholarships annually, ensuring that no student is turned away due to financial need. Adult open classes in ballet, contemporary, jazz, and improvisation welcome our wider community, with 25% of offerings free of charge.
Whether you’re just starting out or returning to the studio after years away, there’s room for you here. At Open Space, we believe movement is a language that belongs to all of us. We’re building a space where everyone feels encouraged to speak.
STAFF + FACULTY
CO-FOUNDERS //
Born and raised in Portland, Charlene trained at The School of Oregon Ballet Theatre for over a decade until joining OBT as an apprentice. She danced professionally with Company C Contemporary Ballet, The Oakland Ballet, Imagery and Berkeley City Ballet. In addition to her classical and neoclassical repertoire, Ms. Hannibal has performed the work of Twyla Tharp, Antony Tudor, James Canfield, Patrick Corbin, Charles Anderson, Gregory Dawson, Michael Smuin, Paul Taylor, David Parsons, Amy Seiwert, Paul Vasterling, and Thaddeus Davis.
Princess Grace Award winner Franco Nieto was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. He made the unconventional switch from football to ballet in his teenage years and has now taught and danced in over 10 different countries and performed with the likes of Lady Gaga and Sir Elton John. He spent 10 years as a principal dancer with NW Dance Project in Portland, Oregon, where he toured the world and worked hand in hand with the leading minds in choreography to create and bring to life countless original works. His early training came from the Vancouver School of Arts & Academics and Columbia Dance, and his formative line of choreography was born from his mentorship with Tracey Durbin. He graduated with his BFA in Jazz from Point Park University. Franco brings his big heart to every class at Open Space.
Maeve Dougal is a co-founder of Open Space and serves as the organization’s Director of Education. A passionate educator and advocate for accessible, high-quality dance training, Maeve brings two decades of experience as a teacher, mentor, and program leader across the country.
Maeve holds an MA in Dance Education with a concentration in American Ballet Theatre (ABT) Ballet Pedagogy from New York University, where she trained under Raymond Lukens and Franco De Vita, co-authors of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She is proud to serve as a member of the Artistic Board of Examiners for ABT’s National Training Curriculum, and is an ABT® Teaching Fellow, certified through Level 7 and Partnering.
STAFF //
(Bio to be updated!)​
ANNIE
BORDEN
PROGRAMS MANAGER + COMPANY ARTIST
(Bio to be updated!)
MARA
HAYS
SCHOOL MANAGER
FACULTY //
(Bio to be updated!)
LEEWEI
CHAO
THE COMPANY
Elise Gonsalves is an artist originally from Portland Oregon, after she graduated high school, Elise studied dance in LA for 5 years but recently returned to Portland. Elise has been dancing with Openspace now since 2021. When she is not dancing with Openspace she dances with a company LED, performing works like“Kid Lighting” and “Over the Moon” choreographed by Lauren Edson. Elise has also worked with choreographers such as Keelan Whitemore, Elijah Labay, Noelle Kayser and recently traveled to the Palm Desert Choreography Festival and the Union PDX Festival performing “Confetti Head” choreographed by Franco Nieto.
Maranda Jory is a 2019 summa cum laude graduate of University of Cincinnati, where they received a BFA in Dance from the College-Conservatory of Music and a BA in Political Science. Before attending college, they received their year-round dance training at Los Angeles Ballet School, the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (JKO) School at American Ballet Theatre, and State Street Ballet. While at JKO, they had the opportunity to perform with American Ballet Theatre in Coppelia and Le Corsaire, and in 2010, they were a part of the original cast of Alexei Ratmansky’s Nutcracker for ABT. In 2015, they received a full scholarship to participate in the National Security Language Initiative for Youth program and train at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. Maranda has danced professionally with State Street Ballet and PDX Contemporary Ballet.
Kylee is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she attended Point Park University, receiving her BFA in modern dance, as well as dancing with the company, The Pillow Projects. Post-college graduation, she relocated to Salt Lake City, Utah to dance with the contemporary dance company, SALT 2. In addition to performing, Kylee is passionate about teaching and choreographing!
​She has performed in works choreographed by Nicole von Arx, Alice Klock, Noelle Kayser, Martha Graham, Penny Saunders, Norbert De La Cruz III, Courtney Mazeika, Jason Mcdole, Pearlann Porter and many others! She recently received a choreography fellowship this past season at SALT to create a new work, “The Waiting Room”, for the second company’s spring show.
KYLEE
KILLIAN
COMPANY ARTIST + THE SCHOOL + OPEN CLASSES
Ella Matweyou began studying classical ballet in her hometown of Akron, OH, where she trained at the Dance Institute of the University of Akron. She went on to study modern, contemporary, and jazz dance as a Dance major at Point Park University and The Ohio State University. Ella graduated summa cum laude with Distinction from OSU, attaining a BFA in Dance with a minor in English. She moved to Portland in 2014, where she began teaching youth classes through The Aspire Project. Under the guidance of her mentor Sue Darrow, Ella found a passion for teaching ballet in an outreach setting through the SUN School program within Portland Public Schools, where she also co-taught with Raven Jones, Artistic Director of WolfBird Dance. Ella served as Program Director of Education & Outreach at The Aspire Project from 2018 until the studio’s closure in June 2020.
Teacher, dancer and choreographer Claire Olberding was born and raised in Portland, OR. Her early training at Dancer's Workshop began a lifelong relationship with Tracey Durbin and a deep love of the Luigi style of Jazz Dance. She brings to OpenSpace a 16 year career teaching and leading Portland's daVinci Arts Dance Program. She received her BFA in dance from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Sara Parker is a Portland-based choreographer, performer, and teaching artist who holds an MFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah and a B.S. in Dance from the University of Oregon. Sara teaches throughout Portland, creates original work, and performs with Darvejon Jones (NYC). Her artistic and teaching practices explore embodiment, storytelling, and the relationship between the personal and the mythic.
SARA
PARKER
OPEN CLASSES
Caitlin Pickens, a Midwestern native, grew up up taking classes at Lou Conte Dance Studio and Joel Hall Dance Center. She graduated from the University of Utah with a BFA in Modern Dance in 2012. While there, she performed in nearly 30 works, including six with the University's Performing Dance Company, and had the pleasure to work with renowned choreographers such as Andrea Miller, Nicholas Leichter, and Sharee Lane. Upon moving to Portland, Caitlin performed in several evening length works and enjoyed collaborating with local artists on various projects.
Jessica Post holds an MFA in Dance from the University of Michigan and a BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts. Her teaching experience includes Oregon Ballet Theatre School, BODYVOX, Multnomah Athletic Club, Western Oregon University, Portland Community College, Eastern Michigan University, and numerous residencies in K-12 schools. Jessica previously performed professionally in Chicago with The Dance COLEctive and Esoteric Dance Project, and presented her choreography throughout Portland, most recently as a New Expressive Works resident, as well as in Chicago and Michigan.
Ellie Thomas (she/they) grew up in Portland, Oregon. They trained at Sultanov Ballet Academy and as a Jefferson Dancer before completing their BFA in dance performance and composition from SUNY Purchase. They joined Open Space after graduating in 2024. Ellie now dances, teaches and choreographs across the Portland area and is thrilled to share their passion for dance at Open Space!
Sarah has been teaching children and adults in private studios, public schools, assisted living facilities and various community settings for the past twenty years. She is passionate about sharing her love of dance with students and encouraging them to find their own creative voice. In addition, Sarah loves community engagement work, removing barriers and making dance more accessible to all. She has directed the Education and Community Engagement department with Oregon Ballet Theatre and continues as a Teaching Artist in public schools.​
SARAH
WARD-BROWN
THE SCHOOL
Beebee White was raised in San Francisco and received her early training from Dance Training Center SF and Ruth Asawa SOTA. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Education Sciences, bridging her two interests. She is passionate about creating accessible and inclusive dance training for movers of all backgrounds. During her time at UCI, she served on board for student-organizations dedicated to bringing dance to the community and worked as a teaching-artist intern at a local high school. Both of these experiences expanded her love for education and the arts.
GUEST FACULTY //
Audrey is originally from Portland, where she trained at the Westside Dance Academy. She has danced with SALT Contemporary Dance and Oquirrh West Project and performed the works of choreographers including Lauren Edson, Micaela Taylor, Ihsan Rustem, Olivier Wevers, Garrett Smith, Robert Battle, and Courtney Mazeika. Audrey received her BFA in dance from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. In her training, Audrey spent summers at various programs including Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, San Francisco Conservatory, NW Dance Project, Vim Vigor Dance Company, and Parsons Dance.
Ariel Clarke is a dancer, educator, model, and most recently a member of Open Space and a 2023 Ballare Carmel Inaugural Fellow and dancer under the direction of Lillian Barbeito. Through an unconventional path, she has accumulated a wide range of educational and performative experiences through national and international programs, most predominantly Springboard Danse Montreal’s 20th edition in 2022, alongside her own creative endeavors both in live performances and films. She finds great joy in sharing her passions for dance and has taught for many years to a variety of different ages and levels at numerous institutions. Drawing inspiration from all aspects of her life, her hunger and curiosity for new information and understanding propel her to constantly question and step beyond her own boundaries within her pursuits and explorations.
Tracey Durbin moved to Durham from Portland, OR, where she was an integral part of the Portland dance scene for 25 years. She began her training with Julie Adler in Detroit and at Interlochen. Tracey trained under Eugene Louis Faccuito, “Luigi,” one of his generation’s most famous international jazz teachers. The Luigi technique and philosophy became the foundation of her teaching. Tracey has choreographed and taught for Northwest Dance Project, Body Vox Dance, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and Reed College. She was one of four choreographers chosen for the Northwest Dance Project’s Chopin Project with acclaimed pianist Yekwon Sunwoo and is also a featured artist in the book Beauty is Experience: Dancing 50 and Beyond. Tracey currently teaches at NC State, Ninth Street Dance, and ADF.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
GINA CONDON
PRESIDENT
SARAH REPPENHAGEN
SECRETARY
KELLY O’SULLIVAN
TREASURER
CHARLENNE HANNIBAL
FRANCO NIETO
MAEVE DOUGAL
JANE TIGHE
BRENNA FEELY
STUDIO RENTALS
Limited studio rentals are available for rehearsals, choreography, or creative projects.
STUDIO RENTAL FEES
Rate Type
Standard Rate
Friends & Artists Rate
Price
$60/hour
$30/hour
INQUIRE
hello@openspace.dance
All rentals are subject to studio availability. Liability insurance is required.
STUDIO PHOTOS
LOCATIONS
THE STATION
8311 N Denver Ave
Portland, OR 97217
DISJECTA STUDIO
8371 N Interstate Ave
Portland, OR 97217
