Archive: Performances and Events

TCB’s beloved holiday classic with a Minnesota twist returns to Ames Center this December! This production retains all the magic and traditions of the classic Nutcracker ballet, but features Minnesota settings with stunning, custom-designed  Minnesota-centric backdrops, and offers audience members something truly unique: a connection to home. Deemed one of the 12 essential holiday events by MPR, A Minnesota Nutcracker is delightful entertainment for the whole family! 

This year also includes the launch of Twin Cities Ballet’s new sensory-relaxed performance series, the first of its kind in Minnesota. These performances are designed to be more accessible for persons with sensory sensitivities and families with young children through relaxed theater rules and modified sensory elements. We are thrilled to be able to share the love of ballet with people who may experience difficulties in a regular performance setting. 

In addition, TCB is offering a one-hour Mini-Nutcracker at Lakeville Area Arts Center on November 30. This short and sweet version is a perfect way to introduce young children to the magic of Nutcracker!

Thursday, December 9 at 10:15am – sensory-relaxed show
Friday, December 10 at 7:00pm
Saturday, December 11 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm
Sunday, December 12 at 1:00pm and 4:30pm

Tickets

About Twin Cities Ballet: Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota (TCB) is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional ballet company located in the South Metro. Our mission is to make ballet approachable, relatable and fun through innovative, professional and original productions.

These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

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.

Jump down the rabbit hole with us to experience a holiday classic with a whimsical twist! Tchaikovsky’s beloved Nutcracker score will take on new meaning as Clara travels through the Land of Snowflakes to meet your favorite Wonderland characters in this playful re-imagination of two quintessential tales.

Choreography by: Zoé Emilie Henrot
Performed by: The company dancers of Ballet Co.Laboratory and students of The School of Ballet Co.Laboratory

Saturday, December 11 at 2:00pm
Saturday, December 11 at 7:00pm
Sunday, December 12 at 2:00pm

Tickets start at $22.

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 and 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. Purchase tickets online, or by calling 952-985-4640.

Upcoming dates: February 8, March 1, and April 12.

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.

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

Katha Dance Theatre (KDT) is excited to present the world premiere of Shaamya – Of Equality – their latest collaboration with 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: 70 minutes. Tickets are available here.

Showtimes:
November 19: 7:30 pm – Post-show reception
November 20: 7:30 pm
November 21: 2:00pm – American sign language (ASL); post-show discussion

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.

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