Hear the Studio A interview and performance by clicking or tapping "Listen" above.
Traverse City Dance Project's fifteenth anniversary summer tour kicks off later this month in Bellaire.
Jennifer McQuiston Lott, founder and resident choreographer of Traverse City Dance Project, and local musician Charlie Millard, stopped by IPR last week to talk about dance, music and working together.
"We have a group of dancers that come from all over the country… we have about two weeks of really intense time to work," said Lott, who added that one of this year's dancers is Charlie Millard's own brother.
"Last week we were in residency… and it was really nice because Charlie and Sam were able to come in and watch rehearsal and we could dialogue a bit…We really are performing and riffing off of one other, and that's the best possible way to collaborate with live music," said Lott.
"I think only thing I have to do is dumb down the amazement of … how dancers pick up choreography so fast," said Millard. "The dancers are immediately activated… it's so cool."
"We are likewise impressed," said Lott. "When you get all those bodies in space and all that energy together, it raises the level of what's happening exponentially."
All that preparation leads up to a free six-stop tour that culminates in a benefit gala at the Historic Barns Park. You can join IPR at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday July 22 at The Little Fleet to get a preview of the original performances.
Music performed in Studio A
Charlie Millard Band, "What Are You Waiting For,"
Jack Conners engineered this edition of Studio A.
