December 28, 2005
Dance group collective effort
Michigan Dance Collective will perform concert in February at City Opera House
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
What Jeff Haas has done in the region for jazz - build a loyal, educated and enthusiastic audience - the Michigan Dance Collective wants to do for dance.
Artistic directors and co-founders Melinda Baker and Philip Leete believe that the Collective will close a dance literacy gap in Traverse City. They plan to merge innovative choreography and excellent dancing with collaboration with other artists to elevate the appreciation for the art form and generate demand for more.
In ten years, they envision the professional dance company as another component of the burgeoning cultural center that has taken root in Traverse City.
"We are two dancers who find ourselves in northern Michigan and see an abundant talent base of dancers drawn to and helped by the beauty of the area," said Baker, an instructor with Dance Arts Academy.
Baker and Leete, both experienced professional dancers, teachers and choreographers, conceived of the Michigan Dance Collective during a cast party for the Dance Arts Academy's production of "The Nutcracker" in December 2004. They formed the company in January 2005, received non-profit status and are a member of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation.
"We are gathering together the critical mass of dancers we are finding here and pulling it together with other media," Baker noted. "We want to introduce artists [to each other] who have not had the opportunity to work together before."
Diversity and collaboration are touchstones and inspirations for the group.
Last summer's two performances included partnerships with musician Don Julin, the Insynch Dance Theater from Holland and guest professional dancers. Interlochen dance instructor Mark Borchelt choreographed a duet for Leete and Baker.
In the same collaborative theme, Michigan Dance Collective's first performance of their 2006 season - scheduled for February 4 at the City Opera House - will also include Insynch Dance Theater from Holland, Mich. Of approximately ten numbers, half will be from each company and the program will feature a mix of high-energy tap and jazz pieces as well as solos and duets.
Other artists participating in that event will be the Cherry Capital Chorus quartet, Don Julin and soprano Nicole Philibosian. Former high school dance standouts Cara Steen and Tiffany Nerem have each choreographed a piece that will be in the show. Steen has returned to New York but the collective will perform her piece while Nerem will perform her duet with Leete.
"We want to bring quality work beyond what high school dancers have," said Leete, who teaches dance at Traverse City West High School, Dance Arts Academy and Ballet, Etc. "We can delve into the depth and emotion that comes with maturity."
Determined to further their vision for the Michigan Dance Collective, Baker and Leete connect with other artists wherever they can. For example, while attending the Traverse Symphony Orchestra's September performance featuring operatic favorites sung by local soloists and choral groups, Baker was entranced by voice and presence of Philibosian.
"I just thought, 'What a marvelous resource, I've got to work with that woman,'¡" Baker recalled. "I think that's the driving force behind the Michigan Dance Collective: emphasizing the word collective."
The 11 adult dancers - eight women and three men - in the collective are drawn from Traverse City and the region, including Cadillac and Manistee. One is a 2005 homeschool graduate while others have years to decades of performance experience.
Grace Blackmer of Traverse City studied dance from the age of three and trained, and now teaches, at The Dance Center. After high school, she left the area to dance professionally in Chicago, St. Louis and New York. Returning home 18 months ago, Blackmer had to create her own performance opportunities because options for adults were bleak.
She joined the Michigan Dance Collective at the beginning and is thrilled at the concept all the way around.
"A lot of dancers leave Traverse because there is nothing, now they can stay and hopefully be a part of this," Blacker said. "I also think that Traverse is hungry for it, I think this area is really ready."