Melissa Younker (she/her) is a Salt Lake City based artist with a multifaceted dedication to dance; directing, choreographing, teaching, learning, performing and designing costumes. Her experimental approach combines her multi-disciplinary experiences to create and collaborate in solo, ensemble, site-specific, video, and live performances. She is driven by curiosity: engaging in processes that are intimate and unrestrained. Originally from Southern California, Melissa received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from California State University, Long Beach in 2014. From 2014-2020, she was a full-time dance artist with Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company. During that time, she toured throughout the USA and France as an educator and dancer: performing 40+ works including historical repertory by Alwin Nikolais with Nikolais Dance Theatre. In 2018, Melissa traveled to Mongolia and South Korea as a cultural ambassador with DanceMotion USA℠, a cross-cultural exchange program of the US Department of State administered by Brooklyn Academy of Music. Melissa is a founding member of Heartland Collective, a multidisciplinary collective with collaborations in dance, visual arts, music, and performance. Recently, she collaborated with project-based movement groups And Artists (Utah), Ballet Opera de Guerra (Utah), Brolly Arts (Utah), Keith Johnson/Dancers (California), and Oriantheatre Dance Company (Paris, France) with whom she toured to Croatia. Melissa is Co-Artistic Director of Utah Valley University’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble, where she was honored with the School of the Arts Dean’s Award of Excellence, for Adjunct Faculty. Her independent projects have been presented in Utah at 12 Minutes Max, 801 Salon, Finch Lane Gallery, Sugar Space Arts Warehouse, and in Michigan at RAD Fest. Melissa’s work is always an exchange of ideas - a sharing of wonder.

Brian Gerke is an award-winning choreographer, performer, and educator who was born and raised in Missoula, MT. However, he spent the majority of his professional career living, performing, and teaching in Europe, where he was a soloist in Iceland's National Dance Company. Also, while living in Europe, Brian co-directed his own dance company for 5 years, presenting works in over 50 theaters, spanning 12 countries. Brian is a Movement Analyst and an Assistant Professor at Utah Valley University. He has been a member of the Heartland Collective, a SLC-based company, since its inception in 2018. Above all, Brian is driven by the desire to wholeheartedly live, work, communicate, and educate while remaining mindful of and supported by his core values...Compassion & Integrity.

Kellie St. Pierre (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist; dancer, choreographer, filmmaker, and educator based in Salt Lake City, UT. Originally from Bakersfield, CA, she graduated from the University of Utah with an M.F.A. in Dance and Screendance, as well as the University of California, Irvine with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance, a minor in Business Management, and a minor in Civic and Community Engagement. As part of her performing career, she has performed as a company member for Donald McKayle's Etude Ensemble and DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion for five seasons, where she toured internationally and nationally. Alongside the company, Kellie competed on America’s Got Talent, Season 12. She has been able to call the Los Angeles dance community home, as well as Salt Lake City. As a filmmaker, Kellie is engaged in video dance, screendance, documentary, and installation work. Most recently, Kellie presented and co-directed a short film at the Women in Dance International Dance Film Festival in Yokohama, Japan. As an educator, she is committed to creating a community built on respect, agency, and multiplicity. She believes dance exists within our bodies and environments, as entertainment and connection, as therapy and ritual, within social and political contexts, and beyond aesthetics. Additionally, she is invested in the health and wellness of dancers through the teaching of yoga, meditation, and Sugarfoot Injury Prevention and Conditioning. As a creator, she is interested in work produced from a place of sustainable risk and discovery, cultivating environments that can promote potential change and growth within our discomforts. Collaborating with objects, set pieces, technology, film, and sound, she considers dance the shared action of all moving things. She recently was invited to present her work, The Rate We Change, at the American College Dance Association Nationals Conference. Through dance, Kellie is committed to sharing the power of movement, inviting in more learning, and cultivating a nurturing practice of self-to-self and self-to-environment connection.

Nichele Woods (she/her; MFA Modern Dance) is a choreographer and dance educator based in Salt Lake City. Born and raised in Sonoma County, California, she worked as a dance artist in the Bay Area before relocating to SLC in 2016 for graduate school at the University of Utah. While in the Bay she had the honor of dancing in various capacities for artists such as Christine Cali, Kristen Daley, Joe Goode, Nancy Lyons, and Mo Miner. Nichele has been focused on her choreographic practice since 2011. Her works have been presented across the United States independently, as well as in residencies, numerous festivals, and by commission. Her current dances draw from her studies in Body-Mind Centering, and ideas of a present experience inside of acceptance, patience, support, and love. As both a teacher and creator, she strives to balance these ideals with rigor and support for the dancer's personal ambitions: creative, academic, or otherwise. From 2019 to 2023, Nichele taught on faculty at Ballet West Academy where she served as the inaugural resident choreographer for Current, the academy's contemporary performing group. This June Nichele will premiere the inaugural production of The Woods Dance Project, presented through Repertory Dance Theatre's "Link Series" and supported by the Salt Lake City Arts Council.

Lilly Barrington grew up in Saint George, Utah where she trained at OnStage Dance Studio and started developing her artistry while choreographing/performing for her high school dance company. She received the Region Sterling Scholar Award and Scholarship, that has allowed her to attend UVU, where she is pursuing a degree in Modern/Contemporary dance. During Lilly’s first year at UVU, she performed with Synergy Dance Company and was thrilled to join CDE her sophomore year.

McKayla Browning, currently a Junior at UVU, is pursuing a BFA in Modern Dance. She's been awarded three Performance Scholarships and performed with Synergy Dance Company in 2019 and 2022. McKayla has also been privileged to perform works by accomplished artists such as Lauren Curley, Andy Noble, and Jamie Myers. With a deep love for movement in all its forms, McKayla appreciates dance as a unique way to express gratitude for her body and experiences.

Emma Crow, dance artist from Utah, has danced and choreographed with Synergy Dance Company, performed original works by Jesse Obremski, Jamie Myers, Nicholas Cendese, Elle Johansen, and Heartland Dance Collective, along with a restaging of Dwight Rhoden’s The Curve. She received a scholarship to participate in SALT’s LINK audition festival where she worked with Nicole von Arx and Christian Denice and has received Exceptional Performance Scholarships throughout the pursuit of her Modern Dance BFA.

Ciera Erekson is a dance artist pursuing her BFA at UVU where she will graduate in Spring 2024. During her three years with CDE, Ciera performed choreography by Martha Graham with Repertory Dance Theatre, Shapiro/Smith with Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and Rhoden/Richardson with Complexions Contemporary Ballet. This year she was honored with the role of CDE Rehearsal Assistant. Ciera believes dance has the power to inspire and hopes she can do just that.

Aubrey Fisher is a dance artist from Utah receiving her Dance Education degree at UVU. Her proficiency in many styles is expressed through performing, choreographing, and teaching. During her time at UVU she received an Exceptional Performance Scholarships and was Valedictorian for her AS in dance. Aubrey performed and choreographed for Synergy Dance Company and is a current member of CDE. She has enjoyed working with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Jesse Ombremski, and Heartland Dance Collective.

Zachary Marshall, dance artist from Riverton, Utah, is a junior in the Department of Dance. Zachary is in his second season with CDE. He has had the honor of performing in shows such as Emerge and Regalia with RDT and at the ACDA National Conference. Zachary has also enjoyed working with artists such as Anne-Marie Browning, Ariana Castaneda, Brynn Perkins, Holly Perkins, Melissa Younker, and Yoshito Sakuraba.

Heather Morley, a dance artist from Highland, UT, is a Junior in the Modern Dance Program. During her three seasons with CDE, Heather has performed works by Brian Gerke, Courtney Mazeika, WHYTEBERG, and Melissa Younker. She has also been able to perform repertoire by Martha Graham with Repertory Dance Theatre, Shapiro and Smith with Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company, and Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson with Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

Emery Nielson is a dancer from Spanish Fork, Utah. She has been dancing for fourteen years and graduated from Lifehouse Performing Arts Academy with extensive ballet and jazz training. She has worked with many experienced performers and choreographers including members of SALT and RDT. She joined CDE in 2023 and is thrilled to be performing with them for the first time.

Richelle Rindlisbacher started her dance training in her youth. After graduating high school, she was offered a dance scholarship at UVU. Since returning from her mission in Germany, she has performed and choreographed on Synergy Dance Company and is now in her second season with Contemporary Dance Ensemble. While at UVU she has performed original works by Justin Bass, Laura Brick, Sarah Donohue, Bret Esterling, Jesse Obremski, Holly Perkins, Yoshito Sakuraba, and Melissa Younker.

Manny Santos is a Dance Artist from Magna, UT, currently in his sophomore year pursuing a BFA in Modern/Contemporary Dance. While in his first season with CDE he has also had the privilege and opportunity to perform with the Hip Hop company Esprit D.C. Through dance, Manny loves to explore new ways of movement dynamics and textures that allow him to express himself fully.

Olivia Stewart is originally from Kuna, Idaho, and is in her fourth year in the Modern Dance program at Utah Valley University. Before college, she was able to attend Northwest Dance Project and San Francisco Conservatory of Dance summer intensives. Throughout her education at UVU, she has performed with Synergy Dance Company, attended Jumpstart LA summer program, and is now on her first season with Contemporary Dance Ensemble where she has worked with prestigious choreographers.

Ashley Wilcox is from Farmington, Utah. Growing up, she performed a variety of styles with Creative Arts Academy. She was awarded the Sterling Scholar Dance Scholarship from Farmington High School. Ashley is currently a sophomore at UVU, dual majoring in Modern Dance and Statistics. She has a passion for movement and performing, and she loves analytics. She performed with UVU’s Synergy Company last year and is thrilled to perform with CDE this year.

Gabby Williams is a dance artist and choreographer from Arizona. At UVU, she has danced with Synergy Dance Company, Rhythmic Tap Company, and is currently a member of Contemporary Dance Ensemble. In 2023, she had the opportunity to perform in Utah’s “Stadium of Fire”. Gabby is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Dance Education and starts student teaching in the Fall!

Maile Yukiko is in her first year with CDE. Maile has performed five seasons with Kinuko Modern Dance Company. She has choreographed for high schools and private studios across Utah. Her choreography has received recognition and awards both in performing arts and competition. Maile was the Sterling Scholar for her high school and is currently dancing with Hale Center Theatre.

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