NW MI Arts & Culture Network

Brent Whitney currently resides in Brooklyn, NY where he is the Executive & Co-Artistic Director of the Traverse CIty Dance Project, freelance choreographer, and an entrepreneur in the wellness/massage industry. Originally from Traverse City, MI, he began his early dance training at Dance Arts Academy and Ballet Etc. It became evident around nine years old that dance was his truest profession. After high school Brent continued on as a dance major at Western Michigan University. His first professional job was with the Milwaukee Ballet Company where he performed a variety of classical and contemporary roles by some of the world’s leading choreographers over the course of four years. After spending a few summers training in New York City, he knew he was destined for the big Apple and made the move. During his 11 years in NYC, he danced with Judith Fugate’s Ballet NY, BalletX, Connecticut Ballet, New York Theatre Ballet, San Diego Opera, Toledo Opera, Carolina Opera, Dance Key West, Lustig Dance Theatre, and the Oakland Ballet. Some of his performance highlights include William Forsythe’s Slingerland Duo, Balanchine’s Agon & Who Cares, Stanton Welch’s Orange, Iago in John Butler’s Othello, Karole Armitage Ligetto Essays, Jodie Gates Delicate Balance, and Mark Godden’s The Magic Flute. His classical repertoire includes Swan Lake, Giselle, Carmen, Nutcracker, Coppelia, Don Q, Dracula, Cinderella, and Romeo & Juliet. Brent is also a choreographer and has created work for a variety of dance and theatre companies.

Whitney has been privileged to collaborate with two of the other professional arts organizations in Traverse City including a program he directed and choreographed with the Traverse Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kevin Rhoes. Last summer Brent and his TCDP Co-director choreographed the musical HAIR for Parallel 45 Theatre company.