Northport Tea Dance Will Return With Special Guests Kim Chi & DJ Jace M
The Michael Chetcuti Foundation and friends are announcing the return of Northport’s own Pride event, with tickets going on sale today.
The Northport Tea Dance 2.0 will be Sunday, October 2 (12pm-4pm) at Northport Pub & Grille (NPG) on Waukazoo Street.
The Sunday afternoon revelry is the brainchild of Michael Chetcuti and Kyle Evans, who wanted to create a special community gathering in their hometown of Northport to cap off Up North Pride Week. (Traverse City’s Official Pride Week is held this year from September 28 to October 2.)
Chetcuti says there will be VIP guests heading to Northport for the celebration: drag queen Kim Chi, who is a performer, makeup artist, and runner-up on Season 8 VH1’s RuPaul's Drag Race.
Detroit DJ Jace M is sharing his musical talents to transform the dancefloor into a fun-loving and inclusive space. NPG will have cocktails and bar nibbles on hand as well.
Through their foundation, Chetcuti and Evans have a strong commitment to LGBTQ+ advocacy, providing financial assistance and networking power to individuals and organizations, creating educational opportunities for students from low-income families, and enriching culture and community in the region.
The Michael Chetcuti Foundation and Baia Estate Wine are also the wine sponsors for Up North Pride Week’s Drag Night in Traverse City’s Open Space, which immediately follows the 8th Annual Up North Pride Visibility March from F & M Park down Front Street to the Open Space.
The original tea dances date back to the “underground” afternoon gatherings of the 1950s and 60s, when members of the gay community could not freely dance together in public.
Chetcuti says last year’s inaugural tea dance was, “Fantastic, and overwhelmingly emotional. One of the reasons we do this is visibility for the younger folks. We are getting the community together and showing that we’re here, and we are not going anywhere.”
He adds, “For some of the younger folks attending with their parents last year, while meeting Scarlet Envy (pictured above right, with Chetcuti) they were welling up. It was an exciting moment.”
Last year’s Northport Tea Dance tickets sold out in three days. Says Chetcuti, “Kim Chi is a big draw. The Northport Pub & Grille is a great indoor/outdoor venue and this year holding it earlier in the season, we might have even better weather.”
NPG owner Michelle Hemeyer tells the Leelanau Ticker, “this inclusive event is important to the Northport community and we are super excited to be hosting.” Daniel Caudill, owner of Olean’s in Northport has also proudly signed on as an event sponsor, noting, “The visibility means so much to our community to protect our rights and freedoms.”
DJ Jace M, who has traveled to tea dances all over the country, is back for a second year, volunteering his time to help create this big party in this little northern village. Last year’s was “a wonderful mixture of dancing kweens of all ages, races, and sexes,” he says.
He adds, “The history of tea dances is really important in the gay scene and that history defines the music. Happy, uplifting beats are imperative to a good tea dance. Disco, house, uplifting circuit. Lots of vocals.”
Chetcuti notes, “all are welcome to come celebrate with us in our diverse community.” JaceM says the music plays a role in that welcoming vibe. “Music doesn’t discriminate! The older crowd will love the familiar favorites and the kids will love to sing along.”
General admission is $25. Tickets are available here.