OUR TEAM

26/27 Company Dancers

Mary Aleiner

Mary Aleiner is a dancer and aerialist who bridges classical training and contemporary innovation. She began her training at Dance Theatre of Harlem and continued with summer intensives at Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, Steps on Broadway, and State Street Ballet. Mary discovered aerial arts in 2022 and began training across a wide range of apparatuses. By 2024, she was performing professionally in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, including Fix You at the Arlington Theatre for Kids Helping Kids and JUPITER at the Lobero Theatre. Mary also performed with the SBCC Dance Company and was invited to join Lisa Eaton’s company works in 2025. Mary has appeared in the dance films FEMME and So Win, and performed FEMME live at Legalize Congress at Los Angeles Dance Project. With her hybrid background in dance and aerial, she continues to expand her artistry across ground and air.

Freesia Bornstein

Freesia Bornstein began dancing at the age of three at Toe to Toe Ballet School in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. At fourteen, she joined the pre-professional program at Mainstage Academy of Dance and Bray Ballet under the direction of Eddy Bray. After graduating from Mainstage, Freesia continued her training at the University of the Arts, where she worked with choreographers including Sidra Bell, Shayla Vie Jenkins, Jesse Zaritt, and Paul Matteson. She later transferred to Dominican University of California, graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance through the LINES Ballet BFA program. During her training, Freesia performed works by Carmen Rozestraten, Molly Rogers, Gary Jeter, Gregory Dawson, and Babatunji Johnson. She has also participated in summer intensives with BalletX, Deos Contemporary Ballet, ShareDance intensive, and Orsolina 28.

Vietor Davis

Vietor Davis is a dance artist based in Santa Barbara, California. Vietor started his training in ballet and contemporary dance in 2017 at The Dance Network and later joined their senior dance company. Vietor joined Selah Dance Collective in 2021 and made his professional debut in Arianna Hartanov’s Bolero. Vietor has since performed throughout the United States with Selah as a member of the touring company, including their recent performance of Sound and Smoke at Gibney 280 in March 2024. Vietor looks forward to continuing to develop his artistry and arts management skills with Novus Contemporary Ballet.

Summer Fowler

Originally from Lake Tahoe, California, Summer began her dance training with Truckee Dance Factory, where she joined their competition team. Upon graduating, Summer was admitted to The Joffrey Ballet School trainee program in New York City under Era Jouravlev and Stacy Caddell. During her time at Joffrey, Summer had the opportunity to dance works including Viva Vivaldi, choreographed by Gerald Arpino, Pinocchio, staged by Arina Carvel, as well as works by  Bradley Shelver, Meg Paul, Margo Sappington, etc. Whilst in New York, Summer joined Flight Path Dance Project. There, she had the opportunity to perform works by Rena Butler, Stephanie Martinez, Akira Uchida, Norbert De La Curz III, etc. After graduating from Joffrey Ballet School with her BFA in Dance Performance in 2026, Summer is excited to start her first season with Novus.

Elianne Holt

Elianne Holt began her dancing training at Hosanna Dance Studio in Eugene, OR, where she fell in love with dance in all forms. After her oldest brother decided to become a professional dancer, she followed in his footsteps.  After graduating high school, Elianne took her first steps into the professional ballet world by moving to Santa Barbara in the fall of 2023 to join State Street Ballet’s Professional Track.  In 2025 Elianne joined Novus Contemporary Ballet as a Trainee where she has performed various soloist roles including Snow Queen and Tea in Meredith Ventura’s Nutcracker Suite. This season Elianne was promoted to apprentice and took on a new role as Costume Manager.  In addition, she has performed with Selah Dance Collective in productions such as “Sound and Smoke”,  “Wildflowers”, “Disco Elysium” and “The Stranger”.

Angelia Lane

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lia began her training at Cincinnati Ballet Academy. In Cincinnati, Lia had the opportunity to work closely with the company, performing roles in Septime Weber’s The Wizard of OZ, Victoria Morgan’s The Sleeping Beauty, Pamela Robinson-Harris’s Snow White, and others. Upon graduating the Academy, Lia accepted a trainee position with Tulsa Ballet. During her two seasons in Tulsa, Lia performed works by Ma Cong, Jera Wolfe, and Maine Kawashima. In 2024, Lia joined State Street Ballet as a trainee, where in addition to performing roles she collaborated with Meredith Ventura in choreographing La Foule. Lia joined Novus Contemporary Ballet for their inaugural season in 2025, and is beyond excited to be part of its ongoing growth and success, taking on additional choreographic and teaching roles as Novus enters its second season.

Kristin Sholberg

Kristin grew up in Phoenix, where she began her ballet training at age 4. After moving back to her birthplace of Seattle, she attended the Maple Valley School of Ballet under the instruction of Jessica Hamblen-Klepper. She later trained with former Pacific Northwest Ballet Principal Deborah Hadley, as well as Amy Thompson and Eva Stone. During her time with Ms. Hadley, Kristin gained a deeper appreciation for all kinds of movement through her exploration of the Balanchine style and various contemporary and modern works. Upon graduating, she moved to Salt Lake City to train at Ballet West Academy in the Professional Training Division, spending two seasons training vigorously under renowned faculty. Kristin joined State Street Ballet as a trainee in the Professional Track in 2024 and is thrilled to continue her journey with Novus Contemporary Ballet for their 2026 season!

Emma Stenger

Emma was raised in San Diego and began dancing at the age of 3. In 2017, she furthered her training under the instruction of Jill Gibson, focusing on the ABT National Training Curriculum. Throughout her training, she took on roles as a teacher, choreographer, and rehearsal & production assistant, which allowed her to develop versatile skills beyond ballet technique. Emma went on to graduate from Elon University in 2023 with a BS in Dance Science and minors in Dance Performance and Choreography & Exercise Science. She had the opportunity to train formally in modern technique and worked with incredible guest choreographers, including Lee Edwards, Ilya Kozadayev, and Janice Rosario. She also trained in lighting design, stage management, presented her own undergraduate research, and completed her Progressing Ballet Technique certification. 

Rosalind Young

Rosalind began her ballet training at the age of eleven with Scottsdale School of Ballet. She then attended other pre-professional programs with Oregon Ballet Theater and Oklahoma City Ballet, as well as Ballet Arizona, where she performed Swan Lake, Raymonda, and Sleeping Beauty. In 2024, she joined State Street Ballet's trainee program. Rosalind is excited for this new opportunity with Novus.

26/27 Trainees

  • Sloan Brookshire

    Trainee

  • Valentina Carlini

    Trainee

  • Allie Francis

    Trainee

  • Ayushi Gaur

    Trainee

  • Brisa Gelber

    Trainee

  • Lucy Lepidoptera

    Trainee

  • Oliver Myers

    Trainee

  • Alice Quint

    Trainee

  • Liz Witthoeft

    Trainee

  • Faye Zink

    Trainee II

Leadership

Meredith Ventura

Meredith Ventura is a multi-creative artist based out of southern California. She graduated with honors from UC Santa Barbara, with a B.F.A. in Dance in 2013, received her M.F.A. in dance at Hollins University in 2018, and is currently a Ph.D. student in Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies. As the founder and artistic director of Selah Dance Collective, Ms. Ventura has produced and performed in full evening-length performances and presented works throughout the United States. She has performed with Nebula Dance Lab and Janusphere Dance Company and travels nationally and internationally as a dance educator and advocate for the arts.

Founder and Artistic Director

Vietor Davis is a dance artist based in Santa Barbara, California. Vietor started his training in ballet and contemporary dance in 2017 at The Dance Network and later joined their senior dance company. Vietor joined Selah Dance Collective in 2021 and made his professional debut in Arianna Hartanov’s Bolero. Vietor has since performed throughout the United States with Selah as a member of the touring company, including their recent performance of Sound and Smoke at Gibney 280 in March 2024. Vietor looks forward to continuing to develop his artistry and arts management skills with Novus Contemporary Ballet.

Company Manager

Vietor Davis

Emma Stenger

Emma, originally from San Diego, has been dancing all her life. In 2017, she furthered her training under Jill Gibson, focusing on the ABT National Training Curriculum. Throughout her training, she served as a teacher, choreographer, and rehearsal & production assistant, which helped her develop versatile skills beyond ballet technique. Emma graduated from Elon University in 2023 with a BS in Dance Science and minors in Dance Performance and Choreography & Exercise Science. She had the opportunity to train formally in modern technique and worked with incredible guest choreographers, including Lee Edwards, Ilya Kozadayev, and Janice Rosario. She also trained in lighting design, stage management, presented her own undergraduate research, and completed her Progressing Ballet Technique certification.  Emma was promoted to Training Program Director in 2026. 

Training Program Director

JOIN OUR TEAM

If you are a dancer interested in auditioning for Novus Contemporary Ballet, we’d love to hear from you. Please send us an email with your resume, headshot, and any relevant performance materials. Our team will reach out with more information about upcoming audition opportunities and how to get involved.

Audition Info