Improvisation takes center stage in "In Process: an evening of improvisational movement and sound," a collaboration between TaMaMa Dance Company and Toms Violence. Ahead of the March 19 performance at the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center, we sat down with members of both groups to discuss how the project came together and what audiences can expect.
Toms Violence emerged as a side project from the Marquette-based band Fridge Buzz. “Our drummer moved to Detroit, so we started doing something completely different,” says Brandon Canfield. “Toms Violence is gentler and more beautiful in many ways, but also less accessible. We’ve played a few shows, and while they’re fun, there’s not a lot of interaction with the audience. The music itself feels more like an evolving piece rather than a structured composition.”
The collaboration took root when Canfield witnessed a performance by dancer Marissa Marquardson that incorporated pottery and clay. “It felt like an extension of what we were doing with sound,” he recalls. Conversations ensued, and with mutual acquaintances bridging the two artistic groups, the seeds for In Process were planted.
The name "In Process" reflects an ongoing exploration of creativity. “Maggie Barch, the third member of TaMaMa, came up with the title,” explains Marquardson. “We talked a lot about when art is ‘finished.’ Often, we put something in front of an audience as a final product, but as artists, we’re never fully satisfied. This show embraces that—the idea that what we present is still evolving.”
Watch TaMaMa Dance Company in a remote collaboration with the Marquette Symphony Strings:
For TaMaMa Dance Company, movement is more than just choreography. “We lean into pedestrian movement,” says Tara Middleton. “Dance isn’t always about perfection or performative elements—it’s about how we move through life. We want to open the audience’s perspective on what dance can be.”
Similarly, Toms Violence challenges traditional musical structures. Violinist Jacob Jeffries describes the freedom within their performances: “We don’t structure our music in a conventional way. We have broad constraints, but each session can sound completely different. It’s a unique, evolving experience.”
Listen to Toms Violence with a holiday selection picked for "A Very Shuffled Holiday Special:"
Vic Holliday will also be a part of the event, with reactive lighting to inform movement and sound from both groups.
Kurt Hauswirth spoke with members of both groups in Studio A:
Ultimately, the artists hope audiences leave with a fresh perspective on improvisation - not so much about a polished final product, but embracing uncertainty and exploring creativity in real-time. "In Process" invites audiences into a world where art remains fluid, evolving with every step and every note. The performance takes place on March 19 at 7 p.m. at the City of Marquette Arts and Culture Center.
