Marisa Bianan, Academy Coordinator | Associate Artistic Director
Originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, Marisa Bianan obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Western Michigan University in April 2018. Soon after graduation, Marisa auditioned for Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers and has since advanced from Company Apprentice to Associate Artistic Director. She will be celebrating her fifth season with the company this year. Marisa has been working in dance programming since her graduation, and has experience teaching the following styles: modern, ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre, hip-hop, and improvisation. She has had the pleasure of instructing students beginning at 2 years old all the way up to professional adults! She has also recently completed Dance Education Equity Association's "BE COURAGEOUS" training, which focuses on creating dance spaces that are anti-abuse, anti-racism, and anti-othering. 2022-2023 will be Marisa's second year as Dance Academy Coordinator. She looks forward to connecting our students with excellent dance instruction while simultaneously connecting the Kalamazoo community to modern dance!
Lachan Niedbala, YPE Coordinator
Lachan Niedbala received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Hope College in 2019. While at Hope, she worked with choreographers such as Steven Iannacone, Sharon Wong, Matthew Farmer, and many more. Since graduating, she has worked with companies such as CPR Inhale Movement, Chamberlain Dance, Tapestry Dance Company, and Atelier Dance Company. Additionally, she has had the opportunity to take her choreography to Detroit (MI), Chicago (IL), and Paris (France.) Outside of performing and choreographing, Lachan is an instructor at Academy of Dance Arts and Wellspring Dance Academy. Lachan is the Coordinator for Wellspring Youth Performing Ensemble. Additionally, Lachan is passionate about her independent projects. She produced the film series Rooted Movement in 2021 and Perspectives Dance Concert in 2022! When Lachan isn’t dancing she is working as a barista at Starbucks. Lachan has been involved with Wellspring since 2019. Thus, she is thrilled to be joining Wellspring as a company member this year and to be performing alongside such wonderful artists!
Emily McKee, Marketing Assistant, Academy Instructor
Emily McKee began dancing at the age of 5 in Kalamazoo and has since then competed and performed with numerous studios before her enrollment at Grand Valley State University, where she is currently receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree as well as a minor in Marketing. In recent achievements as a student, Emily's solo choreography was chosen by the professors as one of two senior pieces to be performed in the Spring Concert. She also was given the opportunity to perform in the 2017, 2018, and 2019 American College Dance Association shows. Emily is currently working as an intern, instructor and marketing assistant for Wellsprings Dance Academy. She also is an instructor for Vicksburg Community Education Dance and Tumbling program and Academy of Dance Arts.
Angel Sutton, Academy Instructor
Angel Sutton is a dance artist based in Kalamazoo Michigan. She has been dancing since the age of three and has been in leadership and choreographic roles from early on. After graduating high school, Angel went to Western Michigan University to pursue a degree in dance. During her time at WMU, she had the opportunity to perform pieces brought to the school by the Great Works Dance program, and choreographed for and with her peers. Once finishing her Bachelor of Fine Arts major in 2021 she was hired as a company member with Wellspring: Cori Terry & Dancers.
Kaitlyn Pollock, Academy Instructor
Kaitlyn Pollock is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a BFA in Dance. Throughout her university experience she had many opportunities to work with guest artists and perform established professional works along with Great Works. Outside of her university training she has attended summer programs in New York, Texas and Chicago. In 2012 she attended American Dance Festival where she had the opportunity to perform with New York based company Shen Wei Dance Arts, Undivided Divided.
Following graduation she moved to New York City and performed professionally with Shawn Bible Dance Company, BOM DIGGS, Smashworks Dance Collective, and DoubleTakeDance Co. She also performed in various freelance dance projects and early development projects such as Dragula The Musical (dancer) and Kalevala the Musical (dancer). While performing professionally she had the opportunity to teach as a guest at ManhattanVille College where she taught the advanced modern students. As guest artist she was invited to perform in the students Dance and Theatre Showcase. In 2018 she moved back to Kalamazoo and joined Jodie Randolph Dance as a company member. With JRD, Kaitlyn has traveled locally and internationally, performing excerpts of our most recent work Two Twelve. In spring of 2019 she became part-time faculty at WMU teaching beginning modern technique, and worked with BA and BFA students on their graduating projects. Kaitlyn is currently the Artistic Director of Young Dancers Initiative Kalamazoo and looks forward to helping young artists find their path through dance.