NewDANCEfest Emerging Choreographers

  • Alec Marianek is a Jacksonville, Florida native, where he began his training at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and Britney Boyd Dance Company. Marianek recently graduated cum laude from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship. He has performed in works by Robert Battle, Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, Joshua Peugh, Adam Hougland, Pascal Rioult, Larry Keigwin, Brian Brooks, Stephanie Martinez, Michelle Gibson, and others. He has also attended intensives at the Martha Graham School, American Dance Festival, B12 in Berlin, and Dark Circles Contemporary Dance. As he enters his career as a professional dancer, Marianek continues to build his choreographic repertory and refine his artistic voice.

  • Kelsi Fears is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and a graduate of the Point Park University Conservatory of the Performing Arts. Kelsi is a 2023 participant of the Camille A. Brown Mentorship Program and a 2023 Tomayko Foundation Award recipient. Kelsi has spent summer’s training at the ChuThis Movement Intensive, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Gibney Summer Study Program and the Sidra Bell Summer Module. Kelsi joined South Chicago Dance Theatre under the direction of Kia S. Smith as an Emerging Artist in 2024.

  • Kayla Wiese (she/her) originally from Rochester Hills, Michigan, began her training at local dance studios, training in a multitude of styles. She continues her training in Kalamazoo, Michigan, pursuing a BFA in dance at Western Michigan University School of Theater and Dance. In 2024, Kayla joined Movement Reservoir Dance Company, under the direction of Lachan Niedbala. While dancing with the company, Kayla has been given the opportunity to also choreograph on the company for their season’s repertoire. Outside of her training in school, Kayla has been blessed with the opportunity to attend programs to enhance her training such as BODYTRAFFIC, Eisenhower Dance Detroit’s winter intensive, Cincinnati Ballet, and more.

  • Caroline Sias is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher raised in the Metro-Detroit area.

    Throughout her youth, Caroline dedicated many hours to training in a variety of styles such as ballet, contemporary, breaking, hip hop, jazz, and acrobatics. While growing up in the competition dance world, Caroline was able to be more inspired by the technique, choreography, and expression within dance.

    In 2022, Caroline moved to Phoenix, Arizona to continue her pursuit of dance with Grand Canyon University for a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance. She has been personally selected for and highlighted in multiple student, faculty, and guest artist works. Her performance has been enhanced by extensive training at well-renowned programs and studios such as Millenium Dance Complex, Eisenhower Dance Detroit’s NewDANCEfest, and Release Detroit. As a choreographer, Caroline has set multiple pieces that have been performed in Grand Canyon University’s student dance concerts. Her recent work, God Complex (2024) was faculty-nominated to adjudicate for the American College Dance Association conference.

    Caroline’s journey reflects her dedication to both her craft and her students, fostering a supportive and creative environment in her classes. With a strong foundation in dance and a passion for sharing her knowledge, she continues to inspire and nurture the next generation of dancers as she navigates her exciting career in the vibrant Arizona dance community.