773 Dance Project

    773 Dance Project was founded by Tyler Thompson in 2018. The goal was to create a dance company that would bring the concert dance experience to south and west side communities of Chicago. By having donation based performances, these shows would be accessible to Black and low income communities who are most often kept from the fine arts. The mission of 773 Dance Project is to increase access to dance in underserved communities through performance, education, and community engagement. 

    Tyler began her mission offering whatever mission aligned events she could with no budget. The first was a Dance-a-Day in the Grand Crossing community where she gathered friends and industry professionals to teach a day of free dance classes for all ages. In 2020 Pauline Mosley joined as Co-Executive Director and programs grew. Soon after there was a Dancewear Giveaway where they collected surplus stock from local dance stores to give out brand new items to dancers and dance families in Hyde Park. Hesitant to start performances until dancers could be paid, Tyler and Pauline collaborated with dancers from their former high school, Whitney Young, to create a dance film in celebration of Black History Month.    

    In 2022 they began offering dance education in subsidized after school programs. By working with organizations like Chicago Youth Centers, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, and Youth Guidance, they've been able to provide after school dance education for over 100 students. The same year they held their inaugural fundraising gala, raising enough to begin rehearsals with professional dancers. 773 Dance Project had it's first professional performance in March of 2023 at Eta Creative Arts Foundation in Grand Crossing. 

    In 2024 they pushed forward. Grantors began to recognize the work and growth of 773 Dance Project and they began to receive support from government organizations like Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Illinois Arts Council, and National Endowment for the Arts (later rescinded by the Trump administration). 773 also began to expand their community, offering a new event titled Arts, Parks, & Us in collaboration with Eye Love You Chicago and H.O.P.E x R.O.P.E. This event offered arts activities and free resources for families while celebrating the beauty of parks deemed unsafe. 

    In February of 2025 773 Dance Project moved into First Presbyterian Church of Chicago. First Church hosts an artist in residence program where a variety of artists who specialize in a variety of mediums work, collaborate, and respond to the surrounding Woodlawn community. The installation of a $15,000 dance floor has allowed this to be a space for company rehearsal and community dance classes. 

    773 Dance Project is so proud of the growth it maintained over the past seven years. It is their aim to add operational staff to maintain their growth, while they continue to strive to make concert dance accessible to people of all ages on the south and west sides of the city.