PORTLAND — The modern dance company Trey McIntyre Project, which burst on the national dance scene in 2005,  will perform Thursday, March 22, at Merrill Auditorium, courtesy of Portland Ovations.

Called “fresh and forward-thinking ” by The Washington Post, McIntyre uses classical ballet as a departure point to create exuberant dances that convey the emotion and grace of life’s journey.

McIntyre has become one of the most sought-after choreographers today, creating works for Stuttgart Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet, as well as his own company.

This year, McIntyre was named the United States Artists Wynn Fellow; and the company was featured on PBS’s “News Hour with Jim Lehrer” and chosen by the U.S Department of State and Brooklyn Academy of Music to participate in DanceMotion USA as a U.S. cultural ambassador.

For its Maine debut, Trey McIntyre Project, consisting of 11 dancers, will perform “Blue Until June,” featuring the music of Etta James; and “The Sweeter End,” with an original score by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, $30 to $38, call 842-0800, visit PortTix at Merrill Auditorium or log on to www.portlandovations.org.

The modern dance company Trey McIntyre Project, featured on PBS’s “News Hour with Jim Lehrer,” will perform Thursday, March 22, at Portland’s Merrill Auditorium. The dancer, above, is Annali Rose.