Archive: Performances and Events

Ricci Milan and the artists of Rhythm Street Movement return to The Cowles Center with Who Brought the Humbug? this holiday season!

Join us for a fun, funky, funny holiday show that the whole family can enjoy. Live music paired with amazing tap dance and a unique mix of comedy, drama, and mystery is sure to make an ­­­evening to remember.

Book the VIP experience and get close to the tap-tastic action with:

• A front-row table for two
• Custom desserts from Nikolett Macaroons and Candyland
• Two complimentary drink tickets
• Plus a commemorative Humbug souvenir

VIP tickets start at just $75!

Covid19: Effective September 1, 2021, all visitors to the Cowles who are attending a performance/event in our theater spaces are required to show either proof of a full course of COVID-19 vaccinations administered at least 14 days prior to the show or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the performance/event. Masks are required throughout the Cowles.

For more information about our health and safety guidelines and getting to The Cowles Center, click here.

The Classic Nutcracker returns to the stage for it’s 33rd production!

After a year away from the stage, Ballet Minnesota is thrilled to present The Classic Nutcracker this December 18-19 at The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to see Artistic Director Andrew Rist’s original choreography to the beautiful score by Tchaikovsky! This family favorite has something magical in store for everyone who attends this dazzling production.

Follow Clara as she receives an enchanting Nutcracker who comes to life right before your eyes! He guides her on a whimsical journey that culminates in meeting the charming and sparkling Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, who present Clara with delightful dances from their Land of Sweets.

Come celebrate the magical holiday season by coming to Ballet Minnesota’s The Classic Nutcracker.

Tickets on sale now at the O’Shaughnessy Box Office.

Join TCB’s professional ballet dancers at the Lakeville Area Arts Center for a fun-filled interactive performance event designed for families and children ages preschool through eight. The programs are less than an hour long—the perfect length for busy schedules and curious minds.

”Dance With Me” highlights age- and ability-appropriate body movement using different forms of dance, and features unique monthly themes, short dance classes, optional audience participation, and short performance demonstrations in costume by TCB’s professional company dancers. You are welcome to enjoy one, many, or all of the programs!

Tuesday, January 11, 2022
10:30-11:30am
Tickets: $6

Upcoming dates in 2022: February 8, March 1, April 12

Jawaahir’s dancers perform stunning contemporary interpretations in the third Sparkle concert.

Sparkle3 is choreographed by the Jawaahir dancers for the dancers, with two choreographies from Cassandra!

Live music provided by the masterful musicians of Amwaaj, including Tim O’Keefe, Laura Harada, and special guest percussionist, Susu Pampanin from San Francisco.

All of this – all new choreography – plus breathtaking solo performances by our stellar guest artist, Luna of Cairo, who performed in the top nightspots in Egypt for many years, now residing in Florida.

Thursday-Sunday, November 18-21

Thursday, November 18 at 8:00pm
Friday, November 19 at 8:00pm – post-show discussion
Saturday, November 20 at 2:00pm – pay-as-able
Saturday, November 20 at 8:00pm
Sunday, November 21 at 2:00pom

Stay after our Friday night show for our post-show discussion with Luna, Amwaaj, and the Jawaahir choreographers! Thursday, Friday, and Saturday starts at 8:00pm, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm. The Saturday matinee is a pay-as-able at the door on a first-come-first-served basis.

Reservations are $40 for adults and $20 for kids 12 and under.

Katha Dance Theatre (KDT) is excited to present the world premiere of Shaamya – Of Equality – their latest collaboration between choreographer Rita Mustaphi, KDT’s Artistic Director, and composer J.D. Steele – at the Park Square Theatre in St. Paul, MN on November 19-21, 2021.

Inspired by the poetry of writer and activist Kazi Nazrul Islam (1899-1976) and using a mixture of multicultural dance, music, and spoken word poetry, the show juxtaposes past and present fights for racial, cultural and gender equity.

Equality will be set to a live rendition of original compositions by Twin Cities musical legend J.D. Steele, who will be accompanied by pianist Billy Steele and vocalist Jevetta Steele, as well as drum artist Abhinav Sharma. It will also include poetic contributions by Somali poet and playwright Ifrah Mansour, who will perform her acclaimed poem “I am a Refugee” onstage alongside Mustaphi and Steele.

In addition to KDT’s Kathak dance ensemble, contributions from dancers of multiethnic backgrounds will fill out the show, including ballet, flamenco, tap, and hip-hop.

Runtime: 80 minutes. Tickets are available here.

In collaboration with photographic artist Sarah Weiss, Our Home aspires to amplify some voices of the AAPI community through explorations of family traditions and personal experiences of living in the Midwest.

Choreography: Ayumi Shafer in collaboration with the dancers

Core Dancers: Tori Breen, Shannon Hartle, Morgan Morrissey, Patience Stellmach

Friday, November 19
7:00pm
Free to attend!

Learn more: https://www.thecowlescenter.org/tickets/ourhome

Alternative Motion Project presents
Move to the Max: Virtual Edition ’21

Get moving and celebrate Give to the Max Day with a vibrant and eclectic movement event. Alternative Motion Project organizes and presents Move to the MAX: Virtual Edition ’21, featuring:

Alternative Motion Project
Ballet Co.Laboratory
Black Label Movement
CAAM Chinese Dance Theater
Concerto Dance
DanceBARN Collective
Dans Askina Turkish Dance Ensemble
Hatch Dance
HoneyWorks
Rhythmically Speaking
STRONGmovement

These organizations combine forces for an exciting and special event celebrating movement in Minnesota. Enjoy compelling content from the comfort of your own home that includes a variety of distinct performances and films by each company. Join us for the “Great Minnesota Give Together” to support these companies’ great work.

Move to the Max: Virtual Edition ’21
Friday, November 19* at 7:00pm
Streaming online.
*NOTE: The day after Give to the Max Day

Entry to the event requires a 100% tax-deductible donation in any amount to at least one of the performing companies as part of Give to the Max Day (GttMD) through November 18, 2021.

​Donations can be made to any participating organization. Please reference each company’s website for how they are accepting donations for GttMD. Each organization will send the live stream link instructions/information directly to its GttMD patrons. If you have NOT received the live stream link and have donated, contact the organization or AMP directly.

Learn More
This is the fourth annual iteration of AMP’s Move to the Max and the second time the event will be held online. AMP held an open call through DanceMN News for movement organizations of all kinds to participate. The captivating evening will offer just some of what MN has to offer with a wide range of movement styles/genres including:

• A blend of West African, ballet, modern, and hip hop forms
• Ballet
• ​Chinese cultural movement forms
• Contemporary/modern
• Community-based practices
• Dance-theater
• Interdisciplinary and experimental
• Jazz and American social dance-inspired
• Turkish Oryantal, Romani, and folkloric dances

Please direct any and all questions to alternativemotionproject@gmail.com.

Ashwini Ramaswamy’s Let the Crows Come invokes the metaphor of crows as messengers for the living and guides for the departed to channel memory and homeland, guidance and dislocation.

Featuring Ashwini Ramaswamy, Alanna Morris-Van Tassel, and Berit Ahlgren, the south Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam is deconstructed and recontextualized to recall a memory that has a shared origin but is remembered differently from person to person. Set to an original recorded score of classical south Indian instrumentation, electro-acoustic cello, and electronics/turntables.

Covid19: Effective September 1, 2021, all visitors to the Cowles who are attending a performance/event in our theater spaces are required to show either proof of a full course of COVID-19 vaccinations administered at least 14 days prior to the show or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the performance/event. Masks are required throughout the Cowles.

For more information about our health and safety guidelines and getting to The Cowles Center, click here.

Since 1972 this post-Thanksgiving tradition has celebrated an array of up-and-coming and established contemporary and experimental movement makers in Minnesota. This year’s program—curated by queer, performance-based artist Valerie Oliveiro—showcases a fresh lineup of provocative, compelling, and diverse works that speaks to the past year in our communities.

Choreographers’ Evening 2021 features Jessika Enoh Akpaka, Kealoha Ferreira, Judith Holo Shuǐ Xiān, Khary Jackson, Sachiko “La Chayí,” José A. Luis, Marcela Michelle, Pedro Pablo, Kayla Schiltgen, Yuki Tokuda, and Wattanak Dance Troupe.

Saturday, November 27
4:00pm and 7:00pm

This event is held in the McGuire Theater; the 7:00pm performance will also be live streamed and the link will be posted on the night of the show.

Some performances contain mature content and nudity.

Mask-wearing is required for this event. For this event, the Walker will require either proof of a completed COVID-19 vaccination regimen or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours.

You are invited to “The Mini-Nutcracker,” a delightful abbreviated version of Twin Cities Ballet’s classic, A Minnesota Nutcracker. “The Mini-Nutcracker” is designed to introduce children to the magic of the family favorite.

This beloved holiday tradition with soaring music by Tchaikovsky promises to hold the attention of even the youngest theatergoer. Suitable for all ages, this version is less than an hour and is performed by cast members of Twin Cities Ballet’s full-length production. A perfect holiday treat!

Tuesday, November 30
11:00am and 6:00pm
$12-$15