Crooked Tree School of Ballet Joins Global Graham100 Celebration with ‘Dance Legends: Little Traverse Bay’
Our take
The Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) School of Ballet’s involvement in the global celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Martha Graham Dance Company with their project “Dance Legends: Little Traverse Bay” signifies not just a local artistic endeavor, but a profound tribute to the evolution of dance as a form of expression. This multidimensional project, spearheaded by former Martha Graham Dance Company Principal Dancer Peter Sparling and CTAC School of Ballet Artistic Director Heather Raue, promises to engage local audiences through a rich tapestry of movement, music, words, and visual art from May to September 2026. As dance continues to be a vital cultural touchstone, initiatives like this remind us of the importance of celebrating our artistic heritage while fostering community engagement.
The staging of Graham’s iconic works, “Appalachian Spring” and “Lamentation,” is especially significant. Both pieces not only encapsulate the essence of Graham’s innovative style but also represent milestones in the history of American dance. Their inclusion in the project highlights the relevance of Graham’s work in today’s artistic landscape—an assertion bolstered by the ongoing discussions around dance in various forums, including events like the Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival, where these foundational pieces were recently featured. The recognition of dance as a critical component of artistic expression resonates with other recent articles, such as “Dance takes center stage in Lincoln Center’s ‘Summer for the City’”, which showcases the broader commitment to integrating dance into community events and spaces.
Moreover, the celebration of Graham’s legacy goes beyond mere nostalgia; it acts as a catalyst for nurturing the next generation of dancers and encouraging diverse forms of expression. The intersection of movement and visual art within “Dance Legends” opens the door for an expansive dialogue about what dance can be in contemporary culture. It challenges audiences to reconsider their preconceived notions of dance while inviting them to explore their own relationships with movement. The collaboration with local artists and musicians further enriches this experience, fostering an environment of creativity and inclusivity. Projects like this are vital for instilling a sense of pride and ownership in local communities, emphasizing that art is not just something to be observed, but something to be actively engaged with.
As we look ahead to the culmination of CTAC’s efforts in 2026, it’s essential to reflect on the broader implications of such artistic endeavors. What does it mean for communities to celebrate their cultural history through the lens of dance? How can projects like “Dance Legends” empower individuals to embrace their bodies and express themselves creatively? The potential for dance to transform not only individual lives but also entire communities is immense. In a world that often emphasizes conformity, initiatives that promote body positivity and self-expression through movement are more important than ever.
Ultimately, as we honor the legacy of Martha Graham, we must also consider how we can take these lessons into the future. The celebration of dance is not just about remembering the past; it’s about shaping a more inclusive, expressive, and vibrant future. As aspiring dancers, seasoned artists, and supportive audiences come together for “Dance Legends: Little Traverse Bay,” we should all ask ourselves: How can we continue to celebrate and expand the boundaries of dance in our own lives and communities? The journey of exploration and expression is just beginning, and we have much to learn from one another as we dance into the future.
The Crooked Tree Arts Center (CTAC) School of Ballet is part of a global celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Martha Graham Dance Company. Under the guest direction of former Martha Graham Dance Company Principal Dancer Peter Sparling and CTAC School of Ballet Artistic Director Heather Raue, this multidimensional project Dance Legends: Little Traverse Bay Celebrates Graham100 will engage local audiences through movement, music, words and visual art, spanning from May to September 2026.
The initial components of the project include stagings of two of Graham’s most acclaimed dance works, “Appalachian Spring” (1944) and “Lamentation” (1930). These stagings were first featured in a lecture-demonstration at the Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival (RADFest) in Kalamazoo, Michigan on March 7. A second lecture-demonstration of these works will be held for local schools at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts on May 29. This lecture-demonstration will engage young students in guided conversation about storytelling through movement.
In addition to performing Graham’s original work, Sparling seeks to reimagine Graham’s 1939 dance-theater piece, “American Document.” This work aims to be a community collaboration that explores local and personal histories gleaned from testimonials of a cross-section of members of the local population. Titled, “Our Own American Document,” this reimagined work will fuse dance, music and the spoken word as it asks what it means to be an American living in a democracy in the Little Traverse Bay area.
All three works will be performed for the public at the Great Lakes Center for the Arts on May 29, and again at John M. Hall Auditorium on August 22. The May 29 performance will feature Principal-Soloist with Miami City Ballet and CTAC School of Ballet alumna, Taylor Naturkas, and dancer with Grand Rapids Ballet, Sam Epstein. Both performances of “Lamentation” will feature CTAC School of Ballet alumna Marie Millard, accompanied by celebrated pianist Thomas Nickell.
In addition to two dance concerts and two lecture-demonstrations, CTAC’s Modern Movement: Barbara Morgan and Martha Graham summer gallery exhibit will be dedicated to showcasing original Barbara Morgan photographs of Graham and her company in the 1930s and 1940s. Morgan, an American photographer celebrated for her groundbreaking images of modern dance, developed a prolific and singular six-decade artistic partnership with Graham. These photographs will be on loan from the Rochester Institute of Technology and UCLA Library Special Collections. Additionally, occupying a gallery alongside this collection of photographs will be a juried exhibition of movement-inspired visual art pieces.
“I see the making of dances as a fine art and craft that both serves a community by informing, teaching and revealing truths while also moving its members with a sublime beauty that transcends any utilitarian function,” project director Peter Sparling describes. “We can be profoundly moved by an exquisitely woven basket, a painting, a spoken soliloquy, a musical composition, a poem … or a dance! Dance Legends proposes to cast legends of our American past, present and future in an artistic rendering combining movement, music and spoken word. Prompted by my mentor Martha Graham’s legendary dances in the year of her company’s 100th birthday, CTAC is excited to share her legacy and to use it as a lens for revealing truths about our own time and place.”
More information about the Graham100 project can be found online at www.crookedtree.org. Tickets for the performances will also be available online through CTAC later this season.
The post Crooked Tree School of Ballet Joins Global Graham100 Celebration with ‘Dance Legends: Little Traverse Bay’ appeared first on Dance Informa Magazine.
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