Archive

ABT Soloist to Star in Ballet Minnesota’s The Classic Nutcracker

Ballet Minnesota’s 34th annual The Classic Nutcracker returns to the O’Shaughnessy! Come celebrate this annual family holiday tradition this December 16-18!

This year’s production features a cast of more than 100 including two highly lauded guest dancers from the prestigious American Ballet Theatre. Soloist Zhong-Jing Fang and corp member Jose Sebastian of ABT 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 Auditorium on the campus of St. Catherine University, December 16-18. Ticket prices range from $19 to $45 with discounts for seniors, students, active military, and groups. To purchase tickets, click here or call The O’Shaughnessy box office at 651-690-6700.

In addition, a livestream performance at 10:00am on Thursday, December 15 will be offered to groups in the wider community in order to provide the ballet experience to those who might not otherwise be able to attend a performance. For information on the livestream, email balletmngrouptickets@gmail.com.

Enjoy the return of this classic holiday favorite!

December 16 at 7:00pm
December 17 at 2:00pm
December 18 at 2:00pm

Hopkins Dance Company – Clara in the City: A Nutcracker Tale

Tickets now on sale for Hopkins Dance Company’s Clara in the City: A Nutcracker Tale!

Make the most of your holiday season. Come see this lovely show sure to be a delight for people of all ages!

December 16 at 7:00pm
December 17 at 12:00pm and 6:00pm

At the Eisenhower Community Center in Hopkins.
Price: $15-20. Get tickets here.

Shared Evening of Choreography at Frogtown Rec

A photo taken from a low vantage point, so we see four dancers' outstretched arms and the ceiling of a large space in the background

D. Jinza Thayer | Movement Architecture, BRKFST Dance Company, INY Asian Dance Theater and Laurie Van Wieren present a free Works-In-Progress Showing of choreography at Frogtown Recreation Center in St. Paul:

Friday, December 16 at 5:30pm

Each choreographer will perform excerpts of their work/latest work-in-progress, sharing their process and inviting feedback/participation from the audience. Stick around after the showing to connect with the artists and enjoy some cookies and lemonade.

Tickets are free.
Please reserve your spot online!

D. Jinza Thayer is a fiscal year 2022 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Rhythm Street Movement’s Who Brought the Humbug?

The artists of Rhythm Street Movement are gathered in a large, joyous group

Get the best seat in the house by securing your Who Brought the Humbug? tickets today!

Ricci Milan and the artists of Rhythm Street Movement are back through December 18 with the fun, funky, hilarious show that pairs live music with amazing tap dance for a unique mix of comedy, drama, and mystery that’s sure to be a memorable evening for the whole family. This year Rhythm Street is bringing new music, new choreography, and new dancers to stage to help celebrate the holiday season!

Regular, in-person single tickets are $45. Student/senior tickets are $35.

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.

Pay-As-You-Are tickets are available for our Saturday, December 17 matinee performance at 2:00pm.
Click here to learn more about our Pay-As-You-Are tickets.

Zenon Dance Zone Fall Showcase

Zenon Dance School – Zone Fall Showcase

New choreographic works by Kendall Kramer and Ruby Josephine Smith, plus guests!

Zenon Dance School’s Zone Showcase will feature Zenon instructors Kendall Kramer and Ruby Josephine Smith in two new works performed by the Zone dancers! Plus, special guest showings by the Beginning/Intermediate Jazz class with Jennifer Glaws and Beginning Jazz with Allison Rubin-Forester.

Zone is an intensive adult dance program for all levels, ages, and dance backgrounds, who wish to deepen their dance journey and experiences. The program offers two tracks and new movers are welcomed through a brief and relaxed audition.

Performance Group – for movers with a strong intermediate/advanced level of dance technique who are searching for opportunities to perform with local choreographers.

Technique Group – for movers to enhance creative and technical skills and explore different genres of dance.

Zone is a platform for emerging and established choreographers to create work and explore material, while celebrating Twin Cities movers.

Friday, December 16 at 7:30pm
Saturday, December 17 at 7:30pm
In-person, masks required.
Tickets: Free, Pay-What-You-Wish. Registration required.

On-demand available December 21-January 4, registration required.

Young Dance 35 Years Celebration—It’s a Party!

Join the Young Dance community to celebrate 35 years of transforming lives through movement!

Saturday, December 17
10:30am–12:30pm in the Young Dance Lobby
12:15–1:15pm in the Teal Studio

Come gather in the lobby and enjoy cookies, beverages, and friends in celebration of our milestone 35th anniversary! The 2022 Spring Performances will be on view, then join us from 12:15–1:15pm for a showing of the All Abilities Dancing piece Organic Knitting, Modern 4/5, the Choreography class, and the Performing Company’s works-in-progress created this fall with Blake Nellis and Aneka McMullen.

Young Dance is also collecting warm winter gear for donation to a local youth mutual aid project. If your family has used gear in excellent condition that you no longer need, please consider bringing and donating the following:

  • snow pants
  • boots
  • warm jackets
  • warm mittens/gloves
  • warm socks
  • warm sweaters

We look forward to celebrating with you on December 17! 

Slo Dance Company at The Southern Theater

Slo Dance Company presents an evening of dance and live music considering the various duets we find ourselves existing in daily – with sound, with space, with time, and with each other. Two improvised dance works on the program will invite performers and audience members alike to be curious about what new relationships might be revealed in the act of slowing down. Slo Dance Company is led by Artistic Director Laura Osterhaus Rosenstone, who works with a rotating group of collaborators. The program at the Southern Theater features dance artists Noelle Awadallah, Emilia Bruno, Alexandra Eady, Emma Marlar, Leslie O’Neill, Jamie Ryan-Karels, and Sarah Steichen Stiles with music collaborator Patrick Marschke.

January 6 and 7 at 7:30pm

$20 General Admission
$14 Students and Children

Tickets available now! 

Floorwork: Conversations and Knowledge Sharing Potluck

Join Mathew Janczewski, Founder and Artistic Director of ARENA DANCES, every first Saturday for Floorwork: a communal conversation and shared meal while contemplating the culture and climate of dance today in the Twin Cities. Floorwork was developed to hold conversations and knowledge-sharing spaces for creatives.

The next Floorwork is:
Saturday, January 7 from 3:00-5:00pm
RSVP by Wednesday, January 4 here.

This January Floorwork will focus on Advancing Dance in Our Community.

Conversation will be held over a communal meal – bring your own dish to share in our potluck! ARENA DANCES will supply beverages, plates, napkins, and utensils.

Special Last Friday Morning Jazz Class Before Our Pause

Erinn Liebhard and Karla Grotting are so grateful for the past eight years of co-teaching Friday Morning Jazz Class at Zenon together. We have decided to put FMJ on “pause” for a bit; we’re both spinning a lot of plates right now and had to set one down so the rest don’t drop. “Pause” means we intend to teach an open jazz class together again sometime in the future, continuing to offer the community a chance to engage with a jazz-music-forward, history-infused jazz class inspired by both social and concert dance ideas – we are invested in the presence of great open jazz class offerings for our community!

This Friday, December 16 we are offering a special class before this pause: Erinn and Karla will be co-teaching, and we’ll have a little celebration and mingle afterward. Stay, socialize, feel community! Class runs 10:00-11:15am.

Thank you all: regulars, drop-ins, folks we see once every two years, and all of you who keep up with us in our Facebook group. We’ve thrived by sharing in this great sense of community and in the joy of dancing together. We appreciate you all, look forward to seeing you around the community, and will be back with an open public class for you when the timing is right!

Please note: Zenon Dance School WILL be continuing to offer a jazz class in this slot – more to come from them on that soon – so keep showing up to get your jazz on!

#GetYourAssToClassThreeMoreTimes #ButAlsoKeepTakingJazzAtZenon #AndOtherClasses #Everywhere #AllTheTime

tandem | shift | hold – hosted by José A. Luis and Kat Purcell

Saturday, December 17
11:00am-2:00pm and/or 3:00pm-6:00pm
At Affirmation Space in the Northrup King Building, 3rd Floor Gallery, Studio 332. Look for signs that say “Affirmation Space.”

About Affirmation Space: Affirmation Space | Love Your Self Love | Minneapolis

José A. Luis and Kat Purcell are hosting space! Join us for a formal exploration of our existing modes of expression (through body, voice, writing), followed by open group explorations. In this sharing session, we arrive individually knowing we will be with others. We endeavor to settle into a song of self, but hold that our songs will not be separated from the chorus of the many. We will draw on themes and mechanisms of somatics, landscapes, Greek tragic chorus, and communal relations.

What to bring:

  • The floor of Affirmation Space is not a barefoot-safe floor. Please bring sneakers, clothing you like to move and sweat in, and layers to accommodate your body’s changing temperature, since sometimes we will be moving a lot and sometimes, we will be moving less.
  • Writing utensils and something to write in, like a personal notebook.
  • Water – we will have some refreshments, but be sure to bring water or a vessel to keep yourself hydrated.
  • Snacks to share, if you are able.

Cost of Attendance: No one turned away for lack of funds. Suggested donation of $25. All proceeds go to support Affirmation Space.

Entrance: For ramp access to Northrup King, go to accessible parking area by Dock 8, which is a couple hundred feet to the right of the main entrance of Northrup King Building (main entrance says “1500” above the doorway). Then use the double doors that have an access button by the sign for Dock 6. This will lead you into the first floor pretty close to the elevator!

Elevators: The elevator is a bit of a walk from studio 332. Feel free to take a break on one of the chairs or benches in the hall! There are signs on the walls with maps.

Seating: Several options are available, including folding chairs, lounges and hammock seats.

Restrooms: Unfortunately, the accessible bathrooms are a bit far from studio 332, over by the elevators, and they are gendered. The restrooms closest to the studio have two steps up for entry and are also gender segregated.

Parking: Free onsite parking.

COVID Protocol: We highly encourage you to take a COVID test before attending this session. If you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms or have recently been exposed to a confirmed COVID positive case, please do not attend. Session facilitators reserve the right to require masking and testing if the session becomes crowded or local health guidelines and conditions change unexpectedly.