Archive: Performances and Events

Karim Nagi, Vanessa of Cairo, and Jawaahir Dance Company take you on a journey through Alwan Masr (The Colors of Egypt)! This fun, family-friendly show gives you a taste of a country with diverse and unique dance styles. We showcase the beauty and distinctiveness of Arab dance.

Karim Nagi is a native Egyptian immigrant, a crossover artist uniting the Arab tradition with the global contemporary world. He has 14 CDs ranging from traditional Arab music to fusion and electronica, and he has instructional videos for Arab percussive instruments and Arab dance styles. He currently resides in Chicago, IL.

Vanessa of Cairo, Artistic Director of Jawaahir, is an international performer, instructor, and award-winning choreographer who resided in Cairo for 12 years. She instructed private and group classes in all styles including many of the Egyptian folklore dances, danced in daily nightclub shows, and danced and acted in various plays through the Ministry of Culture in Egypt.

November 3, 7:30pm
November 4, 7:30pm

Tickets: $20 in advance; $25 at the door

Through sculpture and dance, “Hallucinations” shows alternative views of living with mental illness; revealing the beauty, tragedy, and everything in between; challenging stigmas; shifting perspectives; and so much more.

The sculptures and the performance were influenced by true stories collected from people living with mental illness. Thank you to each of the people involved for trusting me to weave their stories in metal and movement to create a work that will show a new side of mental illness.

See it all come to life on November 17 and 18 at the Center for Performing Arts or via live-stream!
Doors open at 7:00pm CST.
Performance begins at 7:30pm CST.
The Saturday performance will be followed by a Q&A.

In-person tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Live-stream tickets are $8 in advance.
A limited number of pay-as-you’re-able tickets will be available at the door each night.
In-person and live-stream tickets are available at beccacerra.com

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

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

This weekend is the last chance to see Collide Theatrical’s dance adaptation of The Great Gatsby at The Luminary Arts Center in Minneapolis.

Thursday–Sunday, October 12-15

Tickets: online or call 651-395-7903, ext. 701. For group discounts and questions, please email Grace@collidetheatrical.org.

The Great Gatsby
Get ready for the most exciting party in town! The 1920s roar back to life as Collide’s hit production returns to the stage. Bursting with passion and drama, the blockbuster American novel is brought to life through dance and live music. Extravagant parties, glitz, and glamor surround the life of mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby. But as the sparkling facade of his world begins to slip, a world full of tragedy, loneliness, and despair is exposed.

“Not unlike modern-day social media influencers, Jay Gatsby reinvents himself to increase his self-worth through money and materialism,” said Regina Peluso, Artistic Director of Collide Theatrical Dance Company. “I’m looking forward to reimagining this story once again through a modern lens. By creating an inclusive world that reflects America today, we can hold up a mirror to the tragedy and hope encased in our society.”

In 1739, Africans enslaved in South Carolina used their drums to start a revolt—a little-known event that forever transformed African-American life and culture. When the Stono Rebellion cost Africans the right to use their drums, the beats found their way into the body of the people—the Drumfolk. This led to some of our country’s most distinctive traditions like tap, the ring shout, and stepping. Journey with Step Afrika! as they share histories too often left in the margins with this movement-filled celebration of the human spirit.

A Sensory Friendly Lounge equipped with sensory supports and staffed by trained volunteers will be available to all guests who are seeking a safe and soothing atmosphere during this and other select performances. Learn more on the Accessibility Services page.

Friday, October 13 at 7:30pm

Young Dance invites you to celebrate community at the third annual Fall Fling:
Saturday, October 14
2:00–6:00pm

This outdoor celebration is fun for the whole family! Enjoy performances and interactive demonstrations by Young Dance, The ARC Minnesota, Auntie Bec’s Boutique, CAAM Chinese Dance Theater, Element Gym, Ripple Effect Community Fitness, Smiling Drum, St. Paul Ballet, St. Paul Pilates & Fitness, Youth Performance Company, and other Fairview Business Center tenants.

Again this year, we are including a makers’ market with Kimie’s Illustrations, SuperPatch, Mrs. E.’s Teacher Treats, The KaoLee Shop, The Munchies, and more. The Mr. Tamales food truck will be serving incredible Mexican cuisine. The first hour of the event will be a community dance party followed by games, art, performances, and—of course—more dancing! 

The event is FREE! Can’t make it but still feel passionate about Young Dance? Donate here! 

We will provide audio description and an ASL interpreter.
Parking is wheelchair-accessible and seating will be available.
Please let us know if any other accommodations are needed to participate in this event. 

The event will continue inside at each partner’s location in the event of rain. 

Schedule of Events:
2:00 Dance Party – everyone is invited!
3:30 Smiling Drum
3:45 Youth Performance Company
4:00 St Paul Ballet
4:15 CAAM Chinese Dance Theater
4:30 Ripple Effect
4:45 TaikoArts Midwest
5:00 Young Dance

This is a gathering to meet and talk about doing work that is away from the concert stage, site- based, -responsive, -specific. All levels of experience/interest are welcome. Please RSVP.

I have a lot of curiosity around who and why this form ignites. What are the shared resources, insights, wisdom and how we employ site-responsive work to detoxify the studio, the stage, (additional places)?

Saturday, October 14 from 2:00-4:00pm (or longer)
Eats and drinks provided. Outdoors, weather permitting.

If you cannot make October 14, contact me directly to get together another time.

Afoutayi Rasanble Fanmi – Let’s Celebrate Family

Afoutayi Haitian Dance, Music and Arts is a performance company and nonprofit arts organization incorporated in the state of Minnesota and fiscally sponsored by Indigenous Roots in Saint Paul, MN.

Our mission is to promote Haitian and Afro-Caribbean heritage and diversify contemporary representations of Haiti through music, art, dance, and history. We envision a world where Haitian and Afro-Caribbean cultural heritage is a fundamental part of youth education and enriches communities of different backgrounds.​

Ransable is a monthly event hosted by Afoutayi, featuring Haitian food and drinks, social dance, and collaborative performances with special international/local guest artists, all centered around an important theme of Haitian culture.

This month’s theme is Ransanbe Fanmi, which, in Haitian Creole means “Let’s celebrate family.”
We will be joined by special guest, Salsa del Soul.
We invite you to join us for this unique cultural experience!

Saturday, October 14
6:00-9:00pm

Pre-sale tickets: $10 kids; $25 teens and adults
Tickets at the door: $15 Kids; $30 teens and adults

Twin Cities Flamenco Collective inspires audiences through its passionate and soulful expressions of flamenco music and dance along with special guest artists. This is part of TCFC’s monthly residency at Icehouse MPLS.

Sunday, October 15
5:00pm
$20-25

Artists
Alfonso Cid – Special guest singer from New York City
Amanda Dlouhy – Guest dancer
Sachiko “La Chayí” – TCFC, Flamenco dancer
Ross “El Vecino” – TCFC, Flamenco guitarist
Debra “La Gaviota” – Guest dancer
Michael Ziegahn – Guest guitarist
Eva Makiko – TCFC, Flamenco dancer
Wang Ping – Guest dancer