Ava Baldassari
Actor / Dancer / Singer / Model / Filmmaker / Photographer
Ava caught the acting bug at age six when cast in a nationally-run ESPN TV commercial. She has been training and performing ever since, most recently co-starring on NBC's Chicago Fire.
Playing Glinda in her grade school’s production of The Wizard of Oz in 2017 cemented her love of musical theatre. Since then, she has appeared in A Little Night Music (Anne Egerman), Spring Awakening (Wendla Bergmann), A Chorus Line (Judy Turner), Head Over Heels (Philoclea), Pirates of Penzance, and West Side Story. Her love of dance is evidenced by 14 years of studio work, six years as an ensemble member in the Nutcracker with Ballet Chicago, solo and team performances as a competitive dancer with Definition Dance Academy, and work at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts. She has modeled for Claire's, Icing, Meijer, and WedPlan Magazine.
Ava graduated from the Chicago Academy for the Arts (Musical Theater) in 2023, one of the top-performing arts high schools in the country. She is currently attending The New School, double majoring in Screen Studies and Dance.
FILM & TV
FILM
Living Without You | Lead | MbM Studios, dir. Mac Rapash
I Promise | Lead | MbM Studios, dir. Paulina Olszynski
Crosswell | Lead | MbM Studios, dir. Paulina Olszynski
Guardian Angel | Writer, Director, Editor | MbM Studios, dir. Ava Baldassari
TELEVISION
Chicago Fire | Co-Star | NBC, dir. Carlos Bernard
WE Day National Broadcast | Guest Star | ABC, dir. Matt Finlin
ESPN “Jumbotron Proposal” | Lead | ESPN, dir. Jim Jenkins
THEATRE
A Little Night Music
Anne Egerman | Chicago Academy for the Arts
Twelfth Night
Olivia | Chicago Academy for the Arts
Spring Awakening
Wendla Bergmann | Chicago Academy for the Arts
A Chorus Line
Judy Turner | Chicago Academy for the Arts
Julius Caesar
Portia | Chicago Academy for the Arts
Head Over Heels
Philoclea | Chicago Academy for the Arts
Aladdin
Jasmine | Nexus Performing Arts Company
West Side Story
Cast | Nexus Performing Arts Company
Pirates of Penzance
Cast | Chicago Academy for the Arts
MODELING
WedPlan Magazine | Editorial
Meijer | Swim Collection
Claire’s, ICING | Summer Collection | Photographer Doug Human
American Orthodontics | Iconix Refresh Model | Photographer Eric Liebe
Disney, Disneyside.com | Cinderella | Photographer Tony D’Orio
DANCE
Styles: Balanchine Ballet, Vaganova Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Graham Modern, Horton Modern, Jazz Funk, Authentic Movement, Theatre Dance
Training: Neil Greenberg & Katie Workum, Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts; Randy Duncan & Patrick Simoniello, Chicago Academy for the Arts; Definition Dance Academy; Daniel Duell & Patricia Blair, Ballet Chicago
A Chorus Line - Dance Reel | Spring 2022
PHOTOGRAPHY
OTHER PROJECTS
The Adventures Of Bobbeta The Bookmark | Author | January 2023
Watch my interview with FOX 32 Chicago
Available at: BookBaby and Amazon
Helpless. | A Short Film by Ava Baldassari | October 2022
Reflections in Dance | Profile directed, shot, and edited by Ava Baldassari | November 2023