Donors in kind

About the Choreographers + Special Guest

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.

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Lauren Edson 

Lauren Edson, originally from Boise, Idaho, is the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of LED. She is a dancer, award-winning choreographer, producer and director. She received her training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and The Juilliard School and was a celebrated dancer with Trey McIntyre Project for many years. She returned to her hometown with the desire to build a community of artists and art-making practices that inspire risk-taking, greatness and sustainability.

Described as a “choreographer of the first rank,” by the Seattle Times, her works have been commissioned and presented by: The Kennedy Center (DC), Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival (MA), San Francisco Dance Film Festival (CA), Dance Camera West (CA), Winspear Opera House (TX), The McCallum Theater (CA), The Freeman Company (CA), Houston Metropolitan Dance (TX), Milwaukee Ballet (WI), Whim W’Him (WA), Ballet Idaho (ID), Northwest Dance Project (OR) and SALT Contemporary Dance (UT).

She received the 2022 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, is a 2021 Alexa Rose Fellow, a two-time recipient of the ICA Performing Arts Fellowship (2015, 2021), winner of the Pretty Creatives International Choreography Competition, a United States Artist Fellowship nominee and recipient of the 2019 Washington Award for Excellence in Choreography.

In January 2015, she founded LED with her husband and composer, Andrew Stensaas and has continued to be at the forefront of artistic innovation, bringing Boise into a global arts conversation.

Described by the Seattle Times as “ an important addition to the art’s scene in the northwest" the company has been recognized by Dance Magazine as “25 to Watch” for 2020 an honor given to break out artists and companies of the year.

She is the mother to two beautiful boys; Finn and Liam.

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Emy Uno 

Uno is a Dancer/Choreographer/Stage Director from Tokyo.
She has been teaching dance for around 15 years, and has collaborated with various well-known artists and dancers in Japan.
Uno's style was once originally Hip-hop based, but it has evolved into a mash-up of many different styles of dance. It can best be described as, fluid, soulful, and imaginative.

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Sophia Mladineo

From a young age, Sophia Mladineo has held a deep curiosity towards life. Inspired by human nature,  dance, music, and conversation, she has found herself on various timelines. With open mindedness as a core value , she is always delighted to exchange and share.

As an integral part of her life, Sophia has been dancing since adolescence. Raised in Southern California, Los Angeles became a mecca for much of her training. Along the way, she has had the opportunity work with different choreographers and artists from many walks of life. The journey is always beginning. 

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NØIR

NØIR began dancing at 13 after being introduced to freestyle dance on YouTube and, through friends, got introduced to the local street dance community. From there he attended local events, competitions, and freestyle cyphers, quickly becoming an avid member of the dance community. NØIR trained at Groove Nation Dance Academy for 7 years and taught there as a main choreographer for 3 years, solidifying his choreography skills to be polished as much as his freestyle.

NØIR specializes in Hip Hop Freestyle, Popping, and Animation, but trains in a variety of other street/club dances as well. He believes in the importance of foundation and respecting the culture one partakes in, but also being true to who you are as an individual. Dance to him is about fun, but also expressing your true, authentic self.

NØIR’s past accolades and affiliations include Bang Bang Boogie winner, Lyfe Dance Company, Freshvibe, and Trail Blazer’s Rip City Dance Crew.

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