MEET THE COMPANY
SACRAMENTO, CA TEAM
KATIE KILBOURN, Artistic Director, Co-founder
Katie Kilbourn was born in Sacramento, California and trained all over the West Coast before she moved and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Jazz Dance Performance at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. After relocating to New York, Katie had the privilege to dance with several companies including Balasole, J/D Dansfolk, and IKADA. From a young age Katie realized there is a generic pressure within the dance community to maintain a specific body type and she realized that many people, herself included, engage in unhealthy behaviors to achieve a certain look. In 2015 she co founded Borne Dance Company with Kianna Moye and together they created a company dedicated to mental health and eating disorder awareness. As someone who has dealt with mental health concerns her entire life, Katie strived to create a company that would inspire body positivity, self appreciation, and the idea of recovery through art. She was a volunteer at the National Eating Disorders Association for over four years and has personal history with mental health and recovery. She has closely worked with therapists and specialists in the mental health field to create content and workshops that are therapeutic, inspiring, and compassionate for the community. She has a strong passion for eating disorder awareness and strives to continue creating work that sparks compassion and understanding of the eating disorder community. In addition to Borne, Katie also loves teaching dance to members in the community and she currently teaches at the School at the Sacramento Ballet and is a part of the Teaching Artist Company with the Clara. To learn more about her work within the company please read our “our vision” page.
KRISTIN MARSHALL, Assistant director, Dancer
Kristin Marshall is a performer, instructor, and choreographer who fell in love with movement for its ability to express what words cannot. When an individual's emotions and story resonate witha viewer, no matter the form of media, it is powerful. In 2018 she obtained her B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a Minor in Dance. Her major in marketing gave her the chance to work with local businesses to improve their visibility in Sacramento as well as work on special projects for the Department of Theater and Dance at CSUS. Her minor provided her with the opportunity to study and perform under the direction of professors such as Diavolo Alumni Philip Flickinger, New York City Ballet Soloist Nolan T'Sani, and Sacramento Black Art of Dance founder Dr. Linda Goodrich. Currently she is teaching her “littles” at FancyFeet Dance Academy, producing ideas of her own with KNMotion, and performing with the bi-coastal Borne Dance Company. Kristin values the impact the arts make in our community and is excited to tell stories that connect individuals.
MONICA PADILLA, Assistant Director, Dancer
Monica is a multidisciplinary artist that specializes in aerial acrobatics and dance. She fuses together aerial and decades of classical ballet training, making her known for her grace and poise in the air.While ballet is her forte, on the ground Monica is also trained in jazz, contemporary and modern dance. She has most recently collaborated with SacDanceLab, Hip Service and Borne Dance Company in the Sacramento area. In the air, she specializes in aerial silks, hammock, lyra and she enjoys the silver kisses of aerial chain. She captivates audiences with rich storytelling through the use of musicality and dynamic movements, leaving them in awe at her acrobatics. Her performances have enchanted audiences across a variety of venues, from the Crocker Art Museum and Napa Language Academy, to the Rancho Victoria Vineyard, backyard get togethers and corporate retreats. Monica has an insatiable thirst to continue growing as an artist and coach. She currently lives in Sacramento, CA and when not performing you can catch her teaching in the community. Her experience with movement artists across disciplines has brought to light the immense amounts of pressure that individuals put on themselves to fit the mold of what they think their bodies should look like. As a member of Borne Dance Company Monica is excited to use performance art to raise awareness on mental health and eating disorders to transpire change in the community.
ALEXIS BOSEMAN, Dancer
Alexis Boseman was accepted into Natomas Charter School's Performing and Fine Arts Academy where she discovered that she wanted to pursue dance seriously. During her sophomore year, she began competing with River City Dance Academy in multiple styles including jazz, contemporary, tap, and hip hop. After graduating, Alexis continued to pursue dance through latin dance festivals, local showcases, and was even able to travel to Cebu, Philippines to host master classes and performances. Alexis has also been able to teach dance to young children and teens. She currently co-directs the competition team at Fancy Feet Dance Academy and loves to see her dancers grow. She also attends UC Davis as a psychology major with minors in sociology and dance, which she plans to integrate into how she teaches in order to increase diversity in the studio as well as work with students to cope with situations in their lives through dance.
SAMANTHA CHIZEK, Dancer
Samantha Chizek, a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She completed her B.A. in Dance at California State University, Sacramento in Spring 2021. Has been dancing in the Yuba-Sutter and Sacramento area for 21 years and has the pleasure of dancing in pieces by Keri LaGrand, G. Madison IV, Melecio Estrella of Bandalooping, Darrius Strong of STRONGmovement, and Pat Taylor of JazzAntiqua. She has worked with professors from both California State Universities, San Diego State and Sacramento which include; Leslie Seiters, Joe Alter, Bernard Brown, Lorelei Bayne, and Megan Brunsvold-Mercedes. Samantha currently works at Transitions Dance Center in Yuba City where she instructs several dance classes such as: Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, and Tap with age ranges from 3 to 17. She choreographs for the Transitions competitive dance company who compete and participate in workshops/conventions all over Northern California, Southern California and Nevada.She also works at Step 1 Dance and Fitness in Natomas, where she instructs technique and adult classes. She enjoys sharing her passion for dance with the students and being able to share such an art form with the students.This is Samantha’s second year as a member of Borne Dance Company.
Samantha is also a member and an admin for Nhan Ho Project, a contemporary dance company based in Sacramento under the direction of Nhan Ho.
ALEENA PALUMBO, Dancer
Aleena Palumbo was born in Folsom, California and started dancing at the age of 2. She attended Hawkins School of Performing Arts for 17 years and graduated from Folsom High School in 2019. In those years of training, Palumbo traveled nearly monthly for competitions with Jacob Gutiérrez-Montoya on Hawkins Contemporary Jazz Company Elite, with a total of 200+ competitions. In the summer of 2018, she traveled to New York City for a week to train in dance and singing at Peridance Capezio Center and Broadway Dance Center. At the age of 14, Palumbo danced in a show called Sign of Life, directed by Gutiérrez-Montoya, where she danced and translated the song lyrics into American Sign Language. This inspired Palumbo in a career for Deaf Studies. One of Palumbo’s biggest accomplishments is winning national awards with the Hawkins Contemporary Jazz Company in Palm Desert, California for the dances Juliet and Glory. After graduating with a 4.0 GPA from Folsom Lake College in May 2021, Palumbo transferred to Sacramento State where she will be graduating December 2023 with a BA in Deaf Studies. Palumbo plans to transfer to Fresno State in January 2024 to begin a Deaf/Hard of Hearing teaching credential and a masters degree in Deaf Education. Currently, Palumbo is working in the field of Deaf Early Intervention Services locally. She is ecstatic to be working with Borne for her third year to do her part in helping the community she was raised in.
MAGGIE MAUE, Apprentice
Born and raised in the Sacramento area, Maggie began dance at the age of four and started to dance competitively at age seven at local studios in the area. As a teenager, she rigorously studied contemporary and modern dance. She developed a love for teaching dance while substituting and being a TA for ballet and modern classes at her studio. After graduating high school, she joined Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theatre under the direction of award-winning choreographer Jacob Guittierrez-Montoya. After a hiatus from dance, she has joined Borne Dance company and is thrilled to be dancing professionally and teaching again.
KACIE YOUNG, Apprentice
Kacie Young is a well rounded dancer in Ballet, Tap, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, Acro, Modern,and Breakdancing. Kacie’s love for dance started by the age of 18 months, at 5 years old she wanted to be a professional dancer, has competed since the age of 5- 19 years old with solo’s, duo’s, and group dances in all genres. Kacie is currently attending college at DVC College as a dance major, works at the Dance Factory
Jenny Thach, Apprentice
Jenny started her dance journey at Julines School of Dance, training in Ballet and Jazz. She expanded her dance training in Modern and Contemporary in high school with Gregori's Dance Production and Modesto Junior College's dance program, learning from Kim T. Davis and Lori Bryhni. Jenny went on to study at UC Santa Barbara and earned a double BA in Dance and Environmental Studies, as well as minored in Applied Psychology. During her time at UCSB, she had the pleasure of studying under Delila Mosley, Nancy Colahan, Christina McCarthy, Christina Sanchez, and Brandon Whited. She had the opportunity to take part in many of the UCSB Department of Theatre and Dance concerts where she performed pieces choreographed by faculty members and her fellow peers. Jenny danced with the UCSB Senior Dance Company for the '20-'21 season, performing in "Pop" by Caili Quan, "Ride" by Joshua Manculich, and dance film "In Flight & On Film'' directed by Delila Mosley. Jenny is excited to be dancing with Borne Dance Company spreading mental health and eating disorder awareness in the community.
TIFFANI POWELL Spoken word artist
Tiffani Powell (thefresheyedpoet) is a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer and spoken word poet. Tiffani has performed nationally and internationally with several contemporary dance companies in Boston and Washington DC including venues like The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Tiffani received her Bachelor’s of Arts in Dance from the University of Maryland with an emphasis in classical modern dance. With 30 years of teaching experience in public schools, studios, universities and after school programs Tiffani has an extensive career in the arts. In 1998 she found her poetic voice immersing herself into the spoken word community. In 2004 Tiffani released a full length spoken word poetry album and has a collection of poems that focus on the preservation of mental health, healing, personal growth and support for the lgbtq+ community. Tiffani is thrilled to be in collaboration with Borne Dance Company.
NYC Team
Kara Rose Hauenstein, Artistic Director
Kara Rose Hauenstein is originally from Blacksburg, Virginia. She was awarded the Board of Trustees Talent Scholarship from Adelphi University in 2011. At Adelphi University, Kara had the opportunity to perform excerpts from Bella Figura choreographed by Jiří Kylián as well as works by Orion Duckstein, Maurice Brandon-Curry, Melissa Riker, and many others. She graduated from Adelphi University with honors in 2015.
Kara danced with the Bronx-based company MAD About Dance under the direction of Michiyo Tanaka for two years. Kara also performed with the Herbert H. Lehman Dance Company last season under the direction of Loli Santiago. Additionally, Kara was a dancer and rehearsal mistress in a grant project called SteLi, which received funding from the B. Wilson Producing Scholars.
Julia O’brien
Executive Director
Julia is a dancer, dance teacher, and training dance/movement therapist based in NJ. In 2017, she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Georgian Court University with a double major in dance performance and psychology, and a minor in dance/movement therapy. At Georgian Court, she had the privilege to work with choreographers such as Sidra Bell, Randy James, Beau Hancock, Silvana Cardell, Hee Ra Yoo, Steve Vaughn, Kata Mejia, and Charles Anderson.
Since undergraduate school, Julia has freelanced with numerous choreographers in NJ and NYC, and has had the pleasure of working with Shawn Rawls, Melissa Padham-Maas, Vanessa Long, Joe Monteleone, Sonia James Pennington, Krista Morton, Katie-Kilbourn Santiago, and Courtney Murray. She has performed with Emotions Physical Theater, Long2 Dance Co., Introspective Movement Project, Yoo and Dancers, SOMASONDER Dance Project, and the Warwick Dance Collective. She joined Borne Dance Company in June 2019.
Julia is currently in her final year of graduate school at Rider University pursuing her Master’s degree, license in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Dance/Movement Therapy registration. When she’s not rehearsing with Borne, she works as a mental health assistant for adolescent girls who have eating disorders and as a research assistant for Rider University. She serves on the board of the NJ Chapter of the American Dance Therapy Association as the Student Liaison, and is trained in The Body Project through NEDA.
Julia is excited her clinical and artistic interests can intersect in her work with Borne Dance Company, and is honored to serve as the company’s executive director for the 2022-2023 season.
Michaella Barron, Dancer
Detroit Native, Michaella Barron moved away from home at 14 to attend Interlochen Arts Academy. There she performed works by Agnes De Mille, Joseph Morissey, and was selected to perform at Lincoln Center by choreographer Christopher Williams. She moved to New York City to attend the Ailey/Fordham BFA in dance program and graduated summa cum laude with honors with a double major in International Political Economy and a concentration in Italian Language. In addition she has trained with Gibney Company, SpringboardX, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Gallim Dance, Complexions Contemporary Dance, and Martha Graham Dance School. Since being in NYC she has performed works by Anna Sokolow, Manuele Vignoulle, Martha Graham, Jessica Lang, Connie Shiau, and more! Michaella is also interested in choreography and creating community and is the Director of Forza Dance. Her works have been shared at various venues around NYC such as Triskelion Arts, Greenspace, Arts on Site, The Tada Theater, and Fordham University. As an emerging dance artist Michaella is excited to delve into the industry and share her work and passions as a way to create a more empathetic world
Lauren Fader, Dancer
Lauren Fader is a Brooklyn- based dancer originally from Baltimore, Maryland. There she trained in Horton Technique and Ballet at Carver Center for Arts and Technology, under the direction of Stephanie Powell and Maria Royals. She then went on to graduate with her BFA in Dance Performance in 2020, summa cum laude from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. She performed works there by Tommie Waheed- Evans, Katie Swords- Thurman, Stephen Petronio, and Robert Battle. Lauren is excited to combine her passion for mental health advocacy with dance during her first season with Borne!
Meghan Keeney, Dancer
Meghan Keeney is a dancer, writer, and digital creative based in NYC. She is originally from Puyallup, WA. Meghan graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a BA in Dance and a double major in Digital Journalism. Since moving to New York, she has performed with Borne Dance Company, in Fallsview Casino’s Christmas Wonderland, and worked with choreographers including Taylor Gordon, Gwen Potter, Karen Gayle, Catherine Cabeen, and Cornelius Carter. Additionally, she has performed in NYFW, Connecticut’s International Festival of Arts and New Ideas, and at Salvatore Capezio Theater, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Ballet Arts at NYCC, and on Brooklyn Arts Council’s 6 Foot Platform. When she isn’t dancing, she is either filming, editing, or writing. Her written articles can be seen in Dance Magazine, Pointe, Dance Teacher, i-D, Business Insider, and Seattle Refined.
Amina Konaté, Dancer
Amina Konaté is from La Rochelle, France, where she began dancing at the age of 5. She studied at the Conservatoire of Music and Dance of La Rochelle. After she graduated from high school in 2019, Amina joined the Rudra Béjart School, in Switzerland. Two years later, she headed up to New York, to attend the Ailey School. She spent the last summer dancing in Philadelphia as a Philadanco 2 (D/2) member as well as in New York, with Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet and Borne Dance Company. Currently, Ms. Konaté is a freelance dancer and has already had the opportunity to learn and perform works by Maurice Béjart, Julio Arozarena, Tancredo Tavarez, Janice Rosario, Christopher Huggins, Jeroboam Bozeman, Jamel Gaines and Caterina Rago.
Lauriane Nabet, Dancer
Hailing from Melun, France, Lauriane Nabet has extensive training in contemporary, ballet, improvisation and modern, with a particular emphasis on Graham and Limón techniques. She is also performing as a cabaret/burlesque/Gogo Dancer and has a thriving passion for ballroom dance. Ms. Nabet completed the Paris Marais Dance School’s three-year program in Paris before moving to New York City to pursue certification at the Martha Graham School. In 2018, Lauriane graduated from the Teacher Training Program and then graduated from the Accelerated Program, with a concentration in choreography, in 2019. As an Accelerated Program student, Ms. Nabet has created two original works, which premiered in the Martha Graham School’s Fall and Spring Showcases. Additionally, she interned with Mr. Oliver Tobin, Director of Resources at Martha Graham, to assist in staging the annual All-City Panorama project, where students across NYC’s five boroughs audition to perform Graham’s Panorama as part of the Martha Graham Dance Company’s New York City season. Right after graduating, Ms. Nabet had the privilege to have Jennifer Patten head of School, ask her to choreograph for the teens’ program. Ms. Nabet constantly seeks a deeper understanding of her own motion by exploring her dancers’ gifts and experimenting with emotionally inspired movements. Ms. Nabet had the chance to perform as a professional dancer in France, for sure, but also in Spain and England before moving here, in NYC. Indeed, while performing in the Junior ballet of her school, Paris - France, she was also chosen to dance in a project choreographed by Tebby Ramasike, performed in Barcelona - Spain, in 2015. Ms. Nabet had also the privilege to work with Maurice Causey - American choreographer based in The Netherlands, for the creation of a new work in 2016 as rehearsal assistant. From 2016 to 2017, Ms. Nabet was a principal dancer for Eliot Smith Dance in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England. Since her landing in NYC in 2017, Lauriane performed for several companies such as iDance Ministry (Lead Dancer) or Ziel Dance Theater. Her performances history includes the RAW festival Showcase, APAP festival 2020 at New York City Center, NYC Fashion Week 2020 and 2022 and the National Week of Dance 2021 and 2022. Ms. Nabet also performed in Elizabeth Toxler’s choreographies and took part in several video clips during the pandemic. Lauriane is currently dancing with Borne Dance Company, Lyoness NYC, ReactionDance Company, iDance Ministry, Deya Events, Afrah events and works for Mignolo Dance Company. Last but not least, Lauriane has the privilege to teach Ballet, Graham technique and contemporary at the Martha Graham School, and is currently teaching Ballet at the Monmouth Academy of Ballet in Red Bank, NJ.