2024 - 2025
SEASON
NOT-Cracker
December 6// 7:30pm
December 7// 2:00 + 7:30pm
December 8// 3:30pm
Newmark Theatre
Open Space presents an unconventional Winter dance show, NOT-Cracker.! Get it? We invite you to experience Portland's Very Own Holiday Tradition with a fresh perspective: A tale of Ted, an unfortunate friend who thinks they can't dance--until they are swept up by a cast of wilding characters. Join Ted as they enter NOT-Cracker's fantastical world where dance finds us all! Choreographed by Open Space Founders Franco Nieto, Charlene Hannibal and Maeve Dougal, and featuring multiple SPECIAL guests, NOT-Cracker has something for the entire family.
Open Ended
January 23 - 26// 7:30pm
Open Space Creative Container
Open Space welcomes Outrun the Bear, an LA based collaborative dance project, for 2025's iteration of Open Ended. Founded in 2021 by Megan Doheny (USA) and Ilya Nikurov (RUS), Outrun the Bear will create a new work on the company AND perform their own repertoire for this highly anticipated show!
Sheen.
May 16 - 18// 7:30 + 5:30pm
May 21 - 23// 7:30pm
Open Space Creative Container
We are thrilled to welcome back Keelan Whitmore, Ballet X's current Rehearsal Director, and a former dancer with Alonzo King LINES Ballet. Keelan will be re-setting his previous work, "Who lights the Sun?" which enjoyed its world premiere with Open Space in 2022.
Sheen. will also include original creations by Open Space Resident Choreographer Noelle Kayser, and Artistic Director Franco Nieto.
August 2025
Open Space Creative Container
What is Summer Soup? It's a dance show that brings different FLAVORS together to make one delish dish! Open Space, Lauren Edson's company, LED Boise, and guest artist NØIR, reunite for their annual collaborative show!
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Artistic Director // Franco Nieto
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.
COMPANY ARTISTS
From a young age, Sophia Mladineo has held a deep curiosity towards life, leading her to various timelines. Raised in Southern California, Los Angeles became a mecca for much of her training. She is currently located in Portland, Oregon, dancing with Open Space and simultaneously involving herself within its dance community. Along the way, she has had the opportunity to work with different choreographers and artists from several walks of life. With human nature, culture and conversation being pillars of inspiration, she is always delighted to exchange.
Sophia Mladineo
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.
Elise Gonsalves
Annie is originally from Seattle, Washington where she trained at Pacific Northwest Ballet School and went on to receive her BFA in Dance at the University of Arizona. After graduating she moved to Portland and freelanced with artists such as, Katie Scherman, Bodyvox Dance, Meredith Wilde, Kristalyn Gill, Greg Bielemeir, Josie Mosley and Shaun Keylock. This is Annie’s first season with Open Space and she is thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful group of dancers and choreographers such as Noelle Kayser and Elijah Labay. Annie is also the Programs Manager at Open Space. She is looking forward to this next season and is excited to bring joy and light to Portland through dance!
Annie Borden
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.
Audrey Wells
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 is so excited to embark upon her first season with Open Space and to embrace her new surroundings in Portland! When not dancing, she spends her time bouldering, crocheting, riding her bike, and hanging out with her cat Phoebee.
Kylee Killian
An Oregon native, Bryaunna Kostelnik began studying dance, developing choreography, and observing pedagogy at a young age. In the coming years, they continued to train and perform with Quickstyle Studios in Oslo, Norway, b12 in Berlin, Germany, and Deltebre Dansa outside Barcelona, Spain. Post-graduation from Oregon State University in June of 2021, Kostelnik has continued to work professionally throughout the Pacific Northwest with OPENSPACE, push/FOLD, ProLAB Dance, and Southern Oregon Dance Collective, performing work both nationally and globally by Franco Nieto, Victor Quijada (RUBBERBANDance), Noelle Kayser, Samuel Hobbs, Jaci Royal, Wes Veldink, Greg Russell, and Tessandra Chavez as well as collaborated in choreographic work by Akram Khan, Leo Leorus, Anton Lachky (Puzzlework), Jasmin Vardimon, and Elijah Labay. Currently, Kostelnik continues their work with OPENSPACE as company artist for their 2023-2024 season.
Bryaunna Kostelnik
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.