By Tom Sarago, DANCECleveland

In his annual recap of dance in Northeast Ohio, The Plain Dealer’s Don Rosenberg highlighted six innovative and diverse dance companies, including Trey McIntyre Project, which spent the week leading up to their October performance “in residency” at the University of Akron, culminating with a public performance at the University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall this past October. In his year end recap, Rosenberg noted that “few choreographers blend classical and modern elements with McIntyre’s seamless and sensitive authority” and praised the company for their “alive and eloquent dance works.”

Presented in partnership with DANCECleveland and the University of Akron’s E.J. Thomas Hall and funded by lead sponsor the Knight Foundation, Trey McIntyre Project magnetically connected with audiences while performing three diverse works;  Leatherwing Bat, a sprightly dance work featuring music from Peter, Paul and Mary, Bad Winter, an autobiographical piece about a bad breakup that choreographer McIntyre endured and Ladies and Gentleman which featured music from the 1970’s children’s TV show Free to be…You and Me and was based around individualism and gender-role expectations.

Leading up to the performance, the company worked with UA students and held a student master class, hosted a free lecture/demonstration performance, visited the Akron Children’s Hospital and hosted a post-show question and answer session. The presenting partnership between DANCECleveland and the University of Akron started over five years ago and has been responsible for bringing diverse dance companies to Akron including Doug Varone, Alonzo King, MOMIX and Paul Taylor.

Click here to read the entire dance year in review.

Cast members of Trey McIntyre Project. Photo credit: Lois Greenfield.