Dancers with the UALR dance troupe are holding family-friendly shopping events in June to raise travel funds for tours of New York City and Baltimore later this summer.

The troupe will offer an Origami Owl (O2) Jewelry Bar from 4-6 p.m., Saturday, June 1, at 6 Nicklaus Drive in Maumelle. Adults will have a chance to shop and mingle with the dancers, while children may participate in supervised play and movie watching.

Another O2 Jewelry Bar event will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, June 2, at Joel’s Salon in Little Rock, 2300 Andover Court in Pavilion Woods, directly behind Pavilion in the Park.

UALR Associate Professor of Dance Stephanie Thibeault is choreographer and director of the new, five-piece work: “State of Being” to be performed by the troupe of UALR students and alumni in the two-city tour.

Thibeault secured funding for most of the expenses through a UALR research grant and an Arkansas Arts Council fellowship to promote the work.

But the troupe is now looking to raise additional funds to cover travel expenses for the UALR students and alumni who will tour New York City and Baltimore. All proceeds from these fundraisers go directly to support this tour.

Because prior engagements may make it impossible to attend either event, online orders can be placed at teebo.origamiowl.com through June 2. Donations are also welcome.

Visit teebodans.org for more information about the project or to make a gift to fund the dance tour.