Introducing: COMMON conservatory 2022/23
Meet COMMON’s 2022/23 ensemble of conservatory artists!
We’re very excited to follow and celebrate their growth in the year ahead.
Blake Campbell
She/Her
Hometown: Elkhart, IN
What is one goal you have for your year at COMMON?
A goal I have for myself is to remember to have fun while dancing. It’s so easy to get caught up in what’s right or wrong and trying to be “perfect.” Dancing should be a joyful experience.
What are you most excited about in the year ahead?
I am super excited to be working with some choreographers that I know from past years, and super-duper excited to be introduced to new choreographers as well. The opportunity to make connections with the dance community here in Chicago is something that COMMON does very well.
Photo by Joseph A. Hernandez
Ava Lynn Trpeski
She/Her
Hometown: Crown Point, IN
What is one goal you have for your year at COMMON?
One goal I have for this year is to really find my own personal movement once again.
What are you most excited about in the year ahead?
I am most excited to work with new choreographers and work with their styles.
Anna Isaacs
She/Her
Hometown: Elburn, IL
What is one goal you have for your year at COMMON?
One goal I have this year is to reveal myself more openly as an artist.
What are you most excited about in the year ahead?
I am most excited to continue dancing and moving this year.
Photo by Andy Lawson
Jenna Weatherbie
She/Her
Hometown: Austin, TX
What is one goal you have for your year at COMMON?
I hope to strengthen my versatility as a mover and broaden my relationships within the dance world.
What are you most excited about in the year ahead?
I am excited to work with so many talented dancers in the conservatory and those who we are lucky to have as guest choreographers.
Laura Baumeister
She/Her
Hometown: I was born in Germany but moved to the US when I was 2. I moved around a lot, but grew up mostly in Michigan and just moved from Salt Lake City.
What is one goal you have for your year at COMMON?
My goal for this year is to continue consistently growing and learning in every aspect of the training we are doing. I want to be as rigorous as I can in my dedication to the work, while allowing there to be space for kindness to myself and finding joy.
What are you most excited about in the year ahead?
I’m very excited to form relationships with the dancers and choreographers at COMMON, as well as getting to share and learn from their life and dance experience.
Photo by Logan Sorenson
Grace Czechowicz
She/Her
Hometown: Rockford, IL
What is one goal you have for your year at COMMON?
One goal I have for my year at COMMON is to build upon my technical skill and versatility to be a more well-rounded artist.
What are you most excited about in the year ahead?
I am most excited to experience the different artistic processes of all of the choreographers we will be working with this year.
Nicole Steffensen
She/Her
Hometown: Orland Park, IL
What is one goal you have for your year at COMMON?
To gain more confidence in my authentic movement patterns and grow a better range of movement vocabulary.
What are you most excited about in the year ahead?
The opportunities to learn from each new choreographer brought into the rehearsal process.
Anjolie Brockway
She/Her
Hometown: Wisconsin
What is one goal you have for your year at COMMON?
One goal I have is to become more confident in myself and my dancing abilities.
What are you most excited about in the year ahead?
I am most excited to work with all of the faculty and choreographers, and to create some magical works of art with my fellow dancers.
Photo by Halle Sivertson
Caitlin Howland
She/Her
Hometown: Massachusetts
What is one goal you have for your year at COMMON?
To nurture my confidence in my artistry and abilities.
What are you most excited about in the year ahead?
To surprise myself with what I can do and further explore the philosophies of each style of movement.
Photo by Nancy Vela