2024 Performing Company

 Ava is from Grover Beach, California.  She grew up dancing with her home studio SLO Movement Arts Collective. She moved to Chicago in 2021 to dance with Common Conservatory. Ava then relocated to Leeds, England to dance with Northern School of Contemporary Dance where she earned her dance certification. A few teachers Ava has worked with are Amury Leburn, Keria Martin, Alice Klock and Florian Lochner, Antonio Buhar, Robin Mineko Willimas, Meredith Dincolo, and Drew Louis. In 2023 Ava began choreographing and presenting her first work on stage with Simantikos choreo kick-off. Now Ava's choreo has been shown in Hops & Bops, Simantikos Choreo Kick Off, Delve Chicago, Common Ground, and Future Artist with Still Inspired. Ava is so excited to be back in Chicago and to be a part of 773 Dance Project this year, and perform with her fellow dancers!

Avery Wilde (they/them) aims to be an authentic mover and an honest artist. Guided by improvisation, they are fascinated with contemporary movement and artistry, as well as the artistic uniqueness of other multidisciplinary artists. Avery enjoys art of all forms as they have a background performing and choreographing with devised theater and dance for film along with creating various forms of physical art and live dance performance. They obtained a BFA in dance with a modern concentration from Point Park University. In 2023, they moved to Chicago to start dancing with Noumenon Dance Ensemble and later, Modern Marvels Dance Company. They also have worked with Echo Modern Dance Collective. They are grateful to be in their first season with 773 Dance Project. 

Born on Chicago’s Southside, Kopano is a cultural worker who transmutes the present moment into powerful performances. They have had the pleasure of singing at Englewood Jazz Fest & Taste of Chicago, as well as dancing with Chicago’s majorette dance squad Praise Mother. Kopano currently has 2 residences: a monthly jam session at Lemon every first Thursday, and a quarterly dance party called “Errancy” in Woodlawn. As a 2024 recipient of Chicago DCASE's Individual Artist Grant, Kopano is on a journey to reintegrate the true purpose of artistry into society as a tool for collective healing & celebration.

Dani Oblitas (she/they) is a dance artist and educator currently based in Chicago, IL. With an emphasis in choreography, Dani graduated from St. Olaf College with a BA in Dance and Environmental Studies. She is passionate about making movement accessible to all, and views dance as a life affirming act of both community cultivation and individual embodiment. During her time at St. Olaf College, they worked with Stephan Klopowitz, Shapiro & Smith, and Arena Dances. Since graduating, Dani has collaborated on a dance film for the UW Madison P.O.W.E.R. Collective CYPHER for Restorative Justice that was featured in the 2023 Short Stack Film Festival. They have additionally danced with Liz Sexe Dance, KLJ Movement, We Are Collective, 773 Dance Project, Arriving at Dawn, and Albany Park Theater Project’s Port of Entry. Dani has taught as a dance educator for Performing Ourselves, KLJ Movement, and taught Senior Movement Meditation classes at the Madison Public Library. Currently, she is a Teaching Artist for NorthShore Elite Talent, IdeaBox Integrated Arts, and a Teaching Artist Mentor with ArtsXChange. Dani is a Links Hall Co-Mission Resident for 2024. 

Sarah Sterling graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis with a double major in Dance and Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology and a minor in Spanish. During her time in college, she supplemented her training by attending the Bodytraffic Summer Program, the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive, the Bates Dance Festival, and the David Dorfman Dance Intensive. Upon graduation, she was accepted into the Visceral Dance Chicago trainee program where she trained and performed under the direction of Nick Pupillo and Cait Cucchiara. During this program, she performed works by Nick Pupillo, Braeden Barnes, Mónica Cervantes, and Mike Tyus. She has worked professionally as a dancer with Niko8 (under the direction of Sean Roschman) and Alluvion Dance Chicago (under the direction of Johnny Huntoon) and has performed in several music videos under the direction of Isaiah Silvia-Chandley. She has also performed in several festivals around the city, including Simantikos’s “Choreo Kick Off,” and  Alluvion’s “Emergence,” which she has also choreographed for twice. Sarah has been a teacher and choreographer in the Boston area for over five years and has recently begun teaching in the Chicago area. Sarah is excited to begin dancing with 773 Dance Project for their second season!

Sandy is multigenre movement artist from Chicagoland who began her professional dance career in Nashville in 2022. she worked as a company member with DancEast Collective and Found Movement Group, presented work at Kindling Arts Festival, the Animata Arts Residency showcase, and Oz Arts’ Brave New Works Lab with Arelys Hernandez. In Chicago, she has had the privilege of working under Chih-Jou Cheng, Philip Wood and now Dani Oblitas. She is currently focusing most of her training in street styles this year while working as a work study at Rhythmhood. 

Emily Carroccio (she/her) is a Chicago-based dancer, choreographer, and teacher originally from Cleveland, OH. She received her BA in dance and BS in molecular biology from Loyola University Chicago. Since graduating, Emily has had the privilege to perform with The Humphrey-Weidman Artists Collective and Kindred (THWACK), Darvin Dances, the Lucid Banter Project, and Rasa Dance Chicago. She has also had her original choreography commissioned and presented throughout the Chicago area. Emily shares her passion for dance by teaching youth classes and wedding dance lessons. In her free time, Emily also loves to go out swing dancing! IG: @_emilycar