Franco Nieto 
Artistic Director and Co-Founder, Open Space

Franco Nieto is a Princess Grace Award-winning dancer and the cofounder and Artistic Director of Open Space.  He has choreographed over 20 original works, performed in more than 160 world premieres, and is a sought-after master teacher. He is known for fostering a culture free of judgment and creating a wave of positive change in the dance world.  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 (and his dog, Otis!) to the studio each and every day.

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Ching Ching Wong

Guest Choreographer

Ching Ching Wong is a Manila-born, Los Angeles-raised choreographer, performer, and stager. Though she is often on the road, she feels most at home in the studio.

 

As the former Rehearsal Director for Ballets Jazz Montréal, she toured internationally with works by Crystal Pite, Aszure Barton, Ihsan Rustem, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Andonis Foniadakis. As a stager for Swiss choreographer Ihsan Rustem, she has restaged works across Europe, Asia, and North America for companies such as Bern Ballet, Codarts, Taiwan University of the Arts, Theater Altenburg Gera, and Mecklenburg Staatstheater.

 

As a choreographer, Ching Ching’s work is rooted in storytelling, emotional range, and collaboration. Her recent creations include commissions for Louisville Ballet (collaborating with rapper Jack Harlow), SALT Contemporary Dance, Boulder Ballet, The Rosin Box Project, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s CREATE intensive. She continues to develop her episodic work, The Shelf Life, which will unfold across multiple companies this season.

 

She is the recipient of the Princess Grace Award in Dance, was named one of Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch, and is represented by Movement Talent Agency. Formerly, she served as Rehearsal Director for LED, Artist in Residence with Heidi Duckler Dance, and Creative Director for Brett Perry. She also founded Project Salamat a global outreach initiative that toured 17 cities across 11 countries.

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Ching Ching earned her BFA in Dance Performance from the University of California, Irvine, where she trained closely with the late Donald McKayle. Her professional career began with Northwest Dance Project, where she originated roles in creations by Sarah Slipper, Ihsan Rustem, Felix Landerer, Lucas Crandall, Alejandro Cerrudo, Jirí Pokorný, Wen Wei Wang, Didy Veldman, Danielle Agami, and many others. As a freelance artist, she has collaborated with Roderick George, ZviDance, Brendan Duggan, PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, Katie Scherman + Artists, CARLON, YYDC, OddKnock Productions, WHYTEBERG, violinist Joe Kye, and more.

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Ching Ching credits her lifelong teacher, Alia Harlan, for sparking her connection to dance—a connection that continues to shape her practice as both an artist and a leader.

 

Tracey Durbin

Guest Choreographer

Tracey Durbin is a choreographer and teacher who was an integral figure in the Portland, Oregon dance scene for over 25 years. She began her training with Julie Adler in Detroit, Michigan, and at Interlochen Arts Academy, eventually specializing in the Luigi Technique under Luigi Louis Faccuito and Hama in Los Angeles. She carries the movement philosophy of Luigi into her classes, choreography, and life. During her time in Portland, she choreographed and taught at Oregon Ballet Theater, BodyVox, Reed College, and Northwest Dance Project.

 

She recently collaborated with Portland filmmaker Janet McIntyre on “Dancing on Canvas” at the North Carolina Museum of Art and is featured in the book “Beauty is Experience: Dancing at 50 and Beyond.” Tracey is currently setting pieces at North Carolina State University, and she is one of four choreographers selected for Made in NC. She teaches in Durham at the American Dance Festival, NC State University, North Carolina Central University, and 9th Street Dance.

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Audrey Wells 

Guest Choreographer

Audrey Wells is originally from Portland and is currently a dancer with NW Dance Project. She has performed with companies including Open Space, SALT Contemporary Dance, LED Boise, Yin Yue Dance Company, and the TL collective. Throughout her time dancing, Audrey has worked with and performed works by choreographers such as Micaela Taylor, Yin Yue, Lauren Edson, Ihsan Rustem, Caroline Finn, Garrett Smith, Noelle Kayser, Ching Ching Wong, and Franco Nieto. She holds a BFA in dance from Marymount Manhattan College.

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