The Traverse City Dance Project, a nonprofit organization that works “to produce and present professional dance in northern Michigan,” is launching its summer 2024 tour this weekend with performances in Glen Arbor and Kalkaska.

According to its website, the Traverse City Dance Project “traces its origins to a New York City rooftop in 2012, where professional dancers and choreographers Brent Whitney and Jennifer McQuiston Lott planted the seeds of their vision.” Whitney wanted to “bring top-tier dance back to his hometown of Traverse City” and to create a northern Michigan dance company that could “foster a platform for professional dancers, choreographers, musicians, and composers alike.”

Sarah Wolff, one of the Traverse City Dance Project’s dancers, tells The Ticker that this summer’s programming will feature collaborations with Michigan musician Jordan Hamilton, “who will be performing onstage with us alongside his two other trio members.” Hamilton’s website describes his music as “hip-hop influenced, rhythmically layered, melodically robust, avant-garde, folk-soul music.”

The summer tour will kick off this evening with a 7pm performance at The Homestead in Glen Arbor, continuing tomorrow night at Railroad Square in Kalkaska. Other shows over the new 10 days include engagements in Frankfort, Charlevoix, and Traverse City. The TC performance will take place at 7pm on Saturday, August 3 at Rotary Square. The tour will then culminate with an August 6 gala fundraiser at Historic Barns Park.

More information about each show can be found on the Traverse City Dance Project events page. Some performances require tickets, but others – including the Rotary Square performance in downtown Traverse City – are free and open to the public.