Ariel Clarke is a dancer, educator, model, and a member of Open Space, Ballare Carmel, and Gianna Burright & Artists. Through an unconventional path, she has accumulated a wide range of educational and performative experiences through national and international programs, including Springboard Danse Montreal, GAGA Labs, and more. She has spent much of her journey within her own research and 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, with many students attending top universities and dancing for internationally renowned companies.

 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. Ariel Clarke is a dancer, educator, model, and a member of Open Space, Ballare Carmel,and Gianna Burright & Artists. Through an unconventional path, she has accumulated a wide range of educational and performative experiences through national and international programs, including Springboard Danse Montreal, GAGA Labs, and more.

Elise Gonsalves is a movement artist originally from Portland, Oregon. After graduating, she trained in Los Angeles for five years, deepening her craft. Elise is currently a company member with Open Space, under the direction of artistic director Franco Nieto. In addition to her work with Open Space, she regularly performs with her LED family, appearing in works such as Kid Lighting, Over the Moon, and Arm and a Leg, choreographed by Lauren Edson.

​Her performance credits include collaborations with renowned choreographers such as Ching Ching Wong, Gianna Burright, Mike Tyus, Outrun the Bear, Keelan Whitmore, Elijah Labay, and Noelle Kayser. She has had the privilege of performing at the Palm Desert Choreography Festival and Union PDX Festival, including in Confetti Head, choreographed by Franco Nieto.

 When she’s not in the studio or on stage, Elise is most at home in the mountains!

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 with a minor in arts management from SUNY Purchase. At Purchase, Ellie performed works by Eve Chan, George Balanchine, Jenelle Figgins, Lauren Edson, and many others. Additionally, they have furthered their artistic training at organizations such as London Contemporary Dance School, Open Space, Big Kids, Whim W’Him, Vim Vigor, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet. 

 In 2024, they joined Open Space as an apprentice and was promoted to company artist in 2025. Ellie has performed works at Open Space in collaboration with choreographers such as Ching Ching Wong, Keelan Whitmore, Noelle Kayser, and Outrun the Bear. 

 Ellie teaches and choreographs across the Portland area and is thrilled to share their passion for dance at Open Space!

Ellie Toop is a movement artist and dance instructor originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho where she got her love for dance at the ripe age of two. Following her secondary education, she joined the Sacramento Ballet Second Company as a trainee where she performed Waltz of the Flowers and other contemporary & ballet works. Ellie has furthered her dance training at many other places such as SALT, Dance Novella, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and University of Utah. 

Ellie moved to Portland in 2024 to join Open Space Too where she then danced for two full seasons. Ellie has now been promoted to an apprentice with Open Space company for the 26/27 season. Ellie has gotten the privilege to perform works by many renowned choreographers at Open Space such as Ching Ching Wong, Noelle Kayser, and Meredith Webster. Ellie is excited to share her artistry with the community.

Santiago Villarreal is a Mexican dancer, choreographer, and educator born in Monterrey, Mexico. He began dancing at the age of 16 and earned his BFA in Dance from Chapman University in 2019. Based in Los Angeles, Santiago has established himself as a versatile artist working across both concert and commercial dance. Throughout his career, he has performed with and collaborated alongside companies and choreographers including NW Dance Project, Ate9, Boca Tuya, The TL Collective, Yin Yue, JJTC, Backhausdance, and Mike Tyus. His commercial credits include projects with artists such as Kali Uchis, Taeyang, and Dana, as well as national campaigns for Apple and OnStar. As a choreographer, Santiago has created work for NW Dance Project and institutions in Mexico and California. In 2026, he was named 2nd Runner Up at the DanceOne Summit ACE Awards, recognizing his growing voice as a choreographer and commitment to pushing the boundaries of physical movement and artistic exploration.

CJ Hankins is a contemporary artist based in Portland, OR. CJ began his early training as a competition dancer before attending Vancouver School of Arts and Academics where he was introduced to modern and contemporary dance in the school's Extended Day Dance Ensemble program, with which his solo work “It rained with a powerful slowness” was nominated to be performed at the National Highschool Dance Festival in Pittsburgh, PA. CJ danced with Open Space Too for two years where he has performed works by Franco Nieto, Lauren Edson, Outrun the Bear, Noelle Kayser, Keelan Whitmore, and more.

Omar Vargas-Nino is a Portland native and began dancing in high school and Bodyvox’s JAG program. In 2024, he joined Open Space Too under the direction of Franco Nieto and has had the pleasure of performing works by Ching Ching Wong, Noelle Kayser, Keelan Whitmore, Meredith Webster, Tracy Durbin, Megan Doherty, and Ilya Nikurov. He has also trained at YYDC summer intensive and recently Springboard Danse, where he got to be in processes with Sidra Bell and Welcome To Campfire (Tony Bordonaro & Ingrid Kapteyn). This is Omar’s first season as a company apprentice and he’s excited for the opportunity!