Mikala Nelmes is currently a BFA Dance student at the University of Oregon and is set to graduate in 2025. She has been training in ballet, contemporary, and acrobatics for 17 years, predominantly in Washington and Oregon. At age 11, she entered the competitive dance circuit and competed at the national level for several seasons. She attributes majority of her modern and acrobatic training to her time at Turning Point Dance in Medford, Oregon. There she trained with studio owner Aimee Chamberlain as well as instructors Megan Bogart, Holly Curan, and Lo Poppy. While a student at TPD, she was a member of their student teaching program and became YPAD (Youth Protection Advocates in Dance) certified. Her time at TPD truly prepared her for a higher caliber of dance training and led her to audition for the University of Oregon BFA Dance program. Upon getting accepted into the first class of roughly 20 BFA Dance students at the University of Oregon, Mikala began to train in ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, and African idioms 25-30 hours a week. She has performed in roughly 15 shows through the University, and has been the longest standing member of the UO Student Dance Collective since its conception. She has completed a PNW tour with the Student Dance Collective under the training of Hannah Victoria Thomas and Brad Garner to promote collegiate dance education to various schools and studios. She also performed with the collective in the Hult Center in Micheal Moloi’s Sanibonani in 2024. Outside of the University, Mikala has performed as a guest artist with Fermata Ballet Collective as well as non-profit dance company #instaballet. She has taught at various studios in the greater Eugene area over the last three years as she completes her degree at the University of Oregon. She has a passion for helping students conquer their fears and reach their personal goals and LOVES all the students at West Valley very much!