Archive: Performances and Events

“Everything seems absolutely deliberate but also mysterious [ . . . ] a vivid dream, unexplained but not at all random.”—New York Times Critic’s Pick

Explore ritual and dance through science fiction and ancient myth in acclaimed choreographer Beth Gill’s darkly beautiful new work. Emerging as representations of our collective unconscious, five dancers—including Gill herself—transform a contemporary dance performance into an enigmatic and vital space of connection and loss with a sense of magic and awe. Nail Biter embodies her signature choreographic craft, creating what Dance Magazine calls a “sense of control that doesn’t stifle but rather beckons our curiosity.”

Friday and Saturday, December 8-9 at 8:00pm
Walker commission.
Tickets start at $15. No additional fees.

Join us for the TU Dance Winter Showcase at The Southern, featuring CULTIVATE, A Trainee Program and students from Level 4 and 5 of the Pre-Professional Program at The School at TU Dance Center. CULTIVATE will share self-choreographed solos as well as premiere works by local dancer/choreographer and TU Dance alum Anna Pinault and New York-based dancer/choreographer Christopher Ralph. The level 4 and 5 students will perform works by TU Dance Center teaching artist Davente Gilreath and CULTIVATE trainee Gabrielle Abram. Let’s celebrate these inspiring dancers and their artistry and dedication!

December 8 and 9, 2023 at 7:30pm
December 10, 2023 at 2:00pm
30-minute post-show talkbacks will directly follow the Friday, December 8, and Saturday, December 9 performances.

Purchase tickets here!

Ballet Co.Laboratory’s enchanting twist on a holiday classic returns to the stage! Nutcracker in Wonderland weaves together the magic of two timeless stories, E.T.A. Hoffman’s The Nutcracker and Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.

Jump down the rabbit hole for the most curious adventure. The beloved Tchaikovsky Nutcracker score will take on a new meaning as Clara and Alice join forces to battle the Rat Queen, whirl through the Land of Snowflakes hand-in-hand, and encounter Wonderland residents like the Mad Hatter, mischievous Cheshire Cat, perpetually tardy White Rabbit, and spiteful Queen of Hearts all while discovering themselves.

Choreographed by: Zoé Emilie Henrot
Performed by: The Company of Ballet Co.Laboratory and the students of The School of Ballet Co.Laboratory

December 8-10, 2023
Friday, December 8 at 7:00pm
Saturday, December 9 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm
Sunday, December 10 at 2:00pm

Tickets
Adults: $40
Seniors: $35
Children/Students: $30
Groups of ten or more tickets to the same performance: $35/each

A holiday favorite fit for the whole family!

Welcome to the ultimate holiday party where the guests are singers, musicians, tap dancers, and beatboxers! Join this vibrant and talented cast in an interactive, inspirational, all-age, fun, funky, feel-good celebration of the holiday season!

The party takes a turn when two of the cast members become beatboxing investigators on the hunt to find who brought the humbug? Join this vibrant and talented cast in an inspirational, all-age, all-inclusive, family-friendly, fun, funky, feel-good celebration of the holiday season!

Tickets
Regular, in-person single tickets are $49 while student/senior tickets are $39.
Audiences are invited to boost their holiday cheer by getting close to the action at a front-row cabaret-style VIP table. VIP tickets will enjoy the performance with a complimentary sparkling drink, macarons from Nikkollette’s Macarons, and a more immersive experience.

Performances
Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 7:30pm
Friday, December 15, 2023 at 7:30pm
Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 2:00pm
Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 7:30pm
Sunday, December 17, 2023 at 1:00pm

Ballet Minnesota’s company veterans and apprentices, along with a host of students fill out the roles ranging from the luminary Clara to the youngest dancers as scampering mice and winged angels who seem to float on and off the stage. Enchanted sets further the magic with an adrenaline-filled battle, a fire-breathing dragon, lollipop swings along with Madame Ginger, and gentle snow falling on the corps de ballet at the close of Act I.

To brush up on your knowledge of this holiday classic, we begin on Christmas Eve in the cozy home of a young girl, Clara, her mischievous brother, Fritz, and their family hosting a Christmas party. A latecomer to the party is Clara’s mysterious Godfather Drosselmeyer. Clara’s Godfather presents her with a marvelous gift, a Nutcracker doll.

As Clara drifts asleep that night, the audience is transported into her dream. As Clara tiptoes back to the living room she is met by the life sized and animated Rat King and Nutcracker. A battle then ensues with an army of soldiers in Clara’s living room. After successfully defeating the Rat King, the Nutcracker’s spell is broken, and he becomes Prince once again.

The Nutcracker Prince along with the Snow Queen and Prince, escort Clara into the Kingdom of the Sweets. During this trip, Clara is given a tiara for defeating the Rat King and breaking the Nutcracker’s spell. A beautiful festival ensues and the visit peaks with a grand pas de deax danced by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. Clara awakes from her dream and cannot decipher what was real or fake.

Ballet Minnesota has three returning male stars for their 35th annual production of The Classic Nutcracker! They are back for good reason. Robert Clearly can be seen as Herr Drosselmeyer for his 25th year in the production! Matthew Halpaus brings his cavalier charm to his second season as the Nutcracker Prince. Lastly, Aaron Davies will return as the Snow Prince. Aaron began dancing in 2003 and has been a company member of Ballet Minnesota since 2012. More than 100 dancers make up the full cast for this holiday classic. Do not miss out on the chance to see beautiful artistry from both the young students and the seasoned professional dancers.

Ballet Minnesota celebrates the holiday season with The Classic Nutcracker. Special guest soloists Nicole Fedorov and Kaitaro Kodama will dance the pas de deux in the signature roles of Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier. The performances take place at the O’Shaughnessy on the campus of St. Catherine University.

Friday, December 15 at 7:00pm
Saturday, December 16 at 2:00pm
Sunday, December 17 at 2:00pm

Tickets
$5-$45 with discounts for seniors and groups.
Visit The O’Shaughnessy’s online box office or call 651-690-6700 to purchase.

Friday, December 15 at 10:30am
A free livestream of a performance will be broadcast to the wider community to provide the ballet experience to those who might not otherwise be able to attend a performance. Register for the livestream with this link.

Join us for an informal in-studio showing featuring CULTIVATE, A Trainee Program and students from Level 4 and 5 of the Pre-Professional Program at The School at TU Dance Center, in anticipation of our live performances at The Southern Theater from December 8-10. We invite you to attend this event and get an up-close and personal look as CULTIVATE will share self-choreographed solos, as well as premiere works by Gabrielle Abram, Davente Gilreath, Anna Pinault, and Christopher Ralph.

Wednesday, November 15, 2023
5:30-6:30 pm (CST)
In-person only at TU Dance Center.

This event is free. Registration is required.
Space is limited. First come, first served.
To RSVP to the In-Studio Showing, click here.

For more information, directions, and parking, click here.

This is your last chance to join us for one of our biggest collaborative shows to date.

Let America Be America is a progressive series of shorter, intimate salon performances, hearkening back to the Harlem Renaissance, culminating in an evening-length exploration of what it means and will mean for America to truly be America.

Prophetically, Black poet Langston Hughes’ words written in 1935, still ring true today. Hughes’ words, along with poems by spoken word artists Jandeltha Rae and Theo Langason and an original musical score by Queen Drea, are part of this new collaborative work that seamlessly combines spoken word and dance.

Let America Be America, inspired by chants of “Make America Great Again”, explores the premise that America has never been great…for all. The piece comprises a series of spoken word/dance vignettes that highlight the joys and challenges of “the America that is” and “the America that could be.”

See the encore performance at Bloomington Center for the Arts on November 16 and 17.
Thursday, November 16 at 7:30pm
Friday, November 17 at 7:30pm