2026 Performing Company

Chanelle Turnbull began her dance training where she was born and raised in Greensboro, NC at The Pointe! Studio of Dance. There, she also attended summer training programs at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Dance Program. After high school, Chanelle continued her dance training at East Carolina University, where she graduated with her bachelor’s in fine arts degree in 2021. While in school she was also able to receive a full scholarship to the International Association of Blacks in Dance, where she continued to learn from great African American dancers and choreographers. In the fall of 2022 Chanelle received a full scholarship to Visceral Dance Chicago’s Trainee Program, where she trained under various instructors and got to experience company life firsthand, while also teaching for their youth program, even now. Along with teaching at dance studios, Chanelle also shares her gift of dance around various public schools in the Chicagoland area, to help enrich underprivileged youth. This will be Chanelle’s first season with 773 Dance Project, and she is super excited to continue to share her talents with the Chicago community!

Avery Wilde (they/them) aims to be an authentic mover and an honest artist. They obtained a BFA in dance with a modern concentration from Point Park University. At Point Park, they had the opportunity to study under legends such as Jae Man Joo, Jason McDole, and Jesse Factor. In Pittsburgh, they also danced for Shana Simmons Dance. In 2023, they moved to Chicago to start dancing with Noumenon Dance Ensemble, then Modern Marvels Dance Company, and later 773 Dance Project. They have also recently begun working with the Lucid Banter Project. While living in Chicago, they’ve also had the chance to perform and work with The Seldoms, Echo Modern Dance Collective, and Sildance Acrodanza.

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 (they/she) is a dance artist, choreographer, and educator based in Chicago, IL. She is passionate about making movement accessible to all, and views movement as a powerful tool for healing, transformation, and community-building. They graduated from St. Olaf College with a degree in both Dance and Environmental Studies. Dani has had the pleasure of performing with with Liz Sexe Dance, Helen Lee, kt Williams, Erin Kilmurray, The Seldoms, and Ishti Collective among others. Currently, they are a collaborator and performer with 773 Dance Project, Sildance/Acrodanza, and Albany Park Theater Project's Port of Entry. Dani has presented work at Links Hall as a CO-MISSION Resident for 2024/2025, Marvelous Monday, Short Stack Film Festival, FACT/SF Summer Dance Festival, Going Dutch Festival, and Outlaw of the Arts. In 2026, Dani was selected as the Durational Artist at RADFest. In 2024, they completed the Essential Level Spiral Body Techniques® teacher certification with Molly Shanahan/MadShak.

Sarah Sterling is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher from the Boston area. She graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis with a double major in Dance and Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology and a minor in Spanish. She was awarded the Annelise Mertz Memorial Prize in Modern Dance upon graduation, and soon after, 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 danced professionally with Dance Colony + Artists under the direction of Seth Robinson and Jeff Wolfe, Niko8 under the direction of Sean Roschman, 773 Dance Project under the direction of Tyler Thomspon and Pauline Mosley, and Alluvion Dance Chicago under the direction of Johnny Huntoon. She is currently on the adjudication panel for Elite Performance Challenge and has been judging competitions and instructing convention master classes for them for over three years. Sarah is the Performance Company Director at North Shore School of Dance where she has taught for the last three years. She currently resides in Chicago, IL where she continues to perform, teach, and choreograph throughout the city. Sarah is thrilled to be working with 773 Dance Project for a third season!

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Drew Rivera (she/her) is a dance artist, teacher, and choreographer based in Chicago, Illinois. Drew graduated from Smith College with a BA in Latin American Studies and Psychology with a focus in Dance Arts. Here she performed works by Shakia Barron Johnson, Duane Lee Holland, and Djeffrey-Jean Phillipe. During this time, she completed a summer dance intensive with Dallas Black Dance Theater and created a salsa summer dance program for middle schoolers titled El Poder en la Salsa. While in Chicago, Drew has worked with 773 Dance Company, Mandy Milligan, performed at the Simantikos Choreo kick-off, and is a dance educator for littles. Praised for her stage presence and undeniable energy, she is especially interested in the intersection of dance and activism and how they play a role in global social movements.

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