Archive: Performances and Events

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.

Katha Dance Theatre (KDT) is excited to present the world premiere of Shaamya – Of Equality–the latest collaboration between choreographer Rita Mustaphi, KDT’s Artistic Director, with 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.

Showtimes:
November 19: 7:30pm with post-show reception
November 20: 7:30pm
November 21: 2:00pm with American sign language (ASL) interpretation and 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.

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.

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.

Twin Cities Ballet is excited to invite you to our world premiere of Dracula, and Other Tales on October 27 and 28 at Ames Center! 

This exciting production features the world premiere of Dracula, a new ballet with an original story adaptation based on the classic novel and an original musical score written for this production by Minnesota composer Simon Sperl. 

For Dracula, Vogt used the plot of the Gothic novel as a jumping off point to explore the themes of social and physical isolation, mind control, fear, and seduction that permeate the novel, but reinvents the setting. “In this version, the Dracula character is in solitary confinement in a prison,” says Vogt. “It’s not your regular Dracula.” 

Twin Cities Ballet will also be performing Denise Vogt’s RED, an intellectually provocative and emotionally powerful ballet with an all-female cast, inspired by themes from The Handmaid’s Tale. RED explores women’s individual reactions to forced conformity and the stripping of their individuality: compliance, collaboration, and/or rebellion. The evening is rounded off by the premiere of a new piece choreographed by TCB company dancer Micah Chermak, a three-part ballet called Horrification.

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.

Tickets: In person at Ames Center box office or via Ticketmaster.com

ARENA DANCES kicks off its 26th season of favorites with LIVE dance at The Southern Theater:

Thursday, October 28 at 7:00pm
Friday, October 29 at 7:00pm

Mathew Janczewski brings his subtle, rich and viscerally honest choreographic voice to the historic Southern Theater stage for performances by ARENA DANCES. Noted for their unique physicality and humanistic performances, this bill of favorites is a complimentary array of ARENA’s diverse talents. As the company gears up for a fall of touring, be a part of this celebratory home kickoff.

Tickets:
General Admission. $24 week of show and at the door.

Opening night Dine and Dance – $40
Thursday, October 28
6:00pm: Hosted happy hour reception
7:00pm: Performance

COVID-19 PROTOCOL
Masks are required at this event. ARENA DANCES requires all visitors attending our performance to present either proof of a full course of COVID-19 vaccination administered at least 14 days prior to the show or a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of the performance/event. Photos of the necessary documents are acceptable as proof of test/vaccination.

The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University presents Ananya Dance Theatre (ADT) and its new dance work – a meditation on borders, loss, belonging, home and liberation.

Onstage Friday-Saturday, October 29-30 at 7:30pm at The O’Shaughnessy, Dastak: I Wish You Me is structured around four elemental journeys – Earth, Water, Fire and Air.

The evocative work traces the “knockings” (dastak in Farsi) of global injustices and echoes the subtitle created by Sharon Bridgforth – I Wish You Me – amplifying the cross-generational love that has carried communities through difficult migrations. The production invites audiences to imagine what freedom is possible as it expands the realms of intention and trans-dimensional connection through spells that invoke rest, forgiveness, love and freedom

Choreographed by Ananya Chatterjea and performed by the artists of Ananya Dance Theatre, Dastak features a powerful team of collaborators, including writer and dramaturg Sharon Bridgforth, sound artist Spirit McIntyre (performing live), stage director Marcus Young, scenic designer Chelsea Warren, lighting designer Kevin A. Jones, costume designer Annie Cady, and filmmaker Darren Johnson.

Ananya Dance Theatre and The O’Shaughnessy are implementing pay-what-you-can for these performances. The suggested ticket price is $30, but options range from $5 to $40.

Cassandra is your DJ and dance inspiration, so grab your sparkly hip belt and join her for some at-home shimmy fun!

Saturday, October 30
6:00pm

$5 reservations, open until noon (CT) on the day of party in order to get your Zoom invite.