Meet Our Dance Teachers

Lizzi - Dance Coordinator
Lizzi Wood is a Chicagoland-based dancer, dance educator, and arts administrator.  With a BFA in Dance from Columbia College Chicago and 10 years of teaching experience, she brings a balanced blend of artistry and technique to every class.  She performed with site-specific modern dance company Dance Waterloo for four seasons, enriching her perspective from the stage to the studio.  Working with a wide range of ages and abilities in creative movement, ballet, jazz, and contemporary, she guides students in their social emotional exploration, as well as their technical mastery.  Her philosophy centers on growth- nurturing confidence, precision, and musicality- while keeping the joy of dance at the heart of every class.

Trisha 
Mx Trisha "T" Stigge (they/them) is a choreographer, dancer, teaching artist, actor and writer based out of Chicago.  Originally from Nebraska, Stigge studied Theatre Performance/Directing and Dance at the University of Nebraska Kearney.  As a choreographer and dancer, they have trained in Modern, Jazz, Ballet, and Musical Theatre styles.  Recent choreography credits include Nonsense Theatre Company's "Doctor Faustus" and "As You Like It", Fox Valley Theatre Company's "The Prom", Children's Theatre of Elgin's "Finding Nemo Jr" and "Jack: An Original Musical".  Recent performance credits include Nonsense Theatre Company's "As You Like It", "Concrete Palm Trees", "Much Ado About Nothing", Dominican University's "Midsummer Night Cirque", and Kern Productions "Icterine".  Trisha is a teaching artist with Children's Theatre of Elgin, Fox Valley Theatre Company, Paramount School of the Arts, Niles Park District, and most recently Yvonne's Dance Academy!  Trisha believes that the arts are for everyone, be that as a participant, creator or consumer; a sentiment they strive to bring to every class, camp, rehearsal and performance.  Learn more about Trisha at www.trishastigge.com.  

Ava
Ava has been dancing her entire life, bringing a lifelong passion for the artform to every class she teaches.  She was most recently in a trainee position with the Sarasota Ballet for three years, following years of training.  She has experience mentoring and teaching students of varying ages mainly during her time with the Literacy Through the Arts program in Hanover Park and Ultimate Dance on the Move in Naperville.  Her return to the Chicago area to persue a Master of Social Work at Loyola University also brings the opportunity to stay involved in the dance world wheer she grew up.