Performances and Events

From dance, to dance, by dance, for dance: for the skeptics, the ambivalent, and the believers.

A salve for those who are jaded by talkbacks
An irritant if you insist on a singular lens
An ongoingness, a continuous labor, an unarrival
A viewing practice of holding complexity, difference, context, impact
The pleasure of the sting, the slow burn, and, if you’re lucky: an opening.

Three short dance works in process. One running experiment in discussion, together. Because relational, because dance, because dance wants to be in conversations of dance, because dance is what wants.

Wednesday, February 11 at 7:00pm
Tickets: $0-$20 sliding scale

Featuring Masanari Kawahara, Malia Burkhart and Lelis Brito, Romero Cannady, and Trè Da Marc.
Organized and curated by Kenna Cottman, Val Oliveiro, and Pramila Vasudevan.

Rhythmically Speaking dance company makes its Ordway debut—one night only: this Thursday February 12— with Reppin’: Past Moves, New Grooves, a collection of favorite guest artist repertoire and new works by company dancers that represent their signature approach to jazz dance. Dance community, we hope you and your friends will bundle up and come help us fill this big, beautiful space we’ll likely never be in again! Come get some joy!

Thursday, February 12 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $24 in advance, $28 at-the-door (plus $9 in fees)
Artist Rate: $18 (plus $9 in fees) with code ‘ArtistRS’

Rhythmically Speaking’s (RS) signature groove, interaction, and improvisation-driven approach to jazz dance is lauded locally, nationally, and internationally for honoring the African diasporic roots of the form while innovating it forward. Reppin’: Past Moves, New Grooves offers a vibrant jazz dance experience (including tap and plenty of improvisation) that will connect you joyfully to yourself, others, and the moment!

Repertoire works in the show include Confronting Consonance by RS Artistic and Executive Director Erinn Liebhard, a work exploring how we often get in our own way of finding our common ground; Groove: A Communal Love by 2023 visiting artist Carlos R.A. Jones (New York), which celebrates giving over to groove and finding joy in community; and BASSline by 2022 visiting artist Kathleen Doherty (Halifax, Canada), illuminating the body’s relationship to prominent bass lines within music. RS company members creating new works include Nieya Amezquita, Jake Nehrbass, and Betsy Schafer Roob; A/ED Liebhard will also be creating a new screendance for the show, which may or may not include a mic’d Bop It Extreme game providing some audio… if that intrigues you, get them tix!

This performance is made possible in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, in conjunction with The Arts Partnership.

For over a decade, The Karen L. Charles Threads Dance Project has been a transformative force in the Twin Cities Dance community. We’re a community hub that cultivates and supports diverse dance artists at every career stage. From a child’s first dance class to the professional dancer transitioning from choreography or teaching, Threads has always been a place where Minnesota dance artists could turn to for resources, training, mentorship, and community.

We’ve planned a year’s worth of performances and community events to celebrate. Mark your calendar and join us!

Up first, our Sage-award-nominated evening-length work, The Secrets of Slave Songs (2014), will stream online February 12-27.
Visit our website for more information on viewing and all our anniversary events.

Join us for a special free public showing of Maharu, a work that is currently being developed by Contempo Physical Dance. Maharu, a powerful play written by Kasano Mwanza and reimagined as a vibrant contemporary dance adaptation, is a journey into the heart of Afro-Brazilian and Zambian folklore. By attending this showing, you’ll be able to witness the transformation of this play into a dance work and have the opportunity to talk to the artists about their creative processes.

Monday, February 16, 7:45-8:45pm

Parking: There are several ramps and surface lots nearby.
Public Transport Details: To get to the Hennepin Center for the Arts (HCA) in downtown Minneapolis via public transit, use Metro Transit buses with routes like the #4, #5, #14, and C/D Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lines stopping nearby at Hennepin Ave and 5th Street, the primary stop for the HCA and near the Target Center, accessible via the METRO Green or Blue Light Rail lines at the Warehouse District/Hennepin Ave Station.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. This activity is made possible by the Bridge Fund for Dance program through the City of Minneapolis Arts and Cultural Affairs Department.

Here are the notes from our MN Dance Task Force virtual gathering on Friday morning, January 16.

Summary of gathering: A significant portion of the discussion focused on ecosystem thinking within the dance community, emphasizing collaboration and resource sharing. Halie Bahr and Kim Konikow advocated for a positive interpretation of ecosystem thinking, while Sally Rousse suggested broadening the definition of dance to include various performance forms. Plans for community engagement were outlined.

The group addressed the need for equitable representation across greater Minnesota, with Sally Rousse emphasizing the importance of engaging communities outside the Twin Cities. Kim Konikow proposed a leadership model that leverages individual skills rather than traditional nonprofit structures, while Gary Peterson called for focused discussions to identify successful elements from other organizations. The conversation also highlighted the challenges faced by younger generations in the dance field and the necessity of mentorship. The meeting concluded with plans for the next gathering, scheduled for February 20, and discussions on ensuring transparency and community engagement in future initiatives.

Next Meeting: Friday, February 20
8:45am: Welcome new attendees
9:00-10:00am: Meeting

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 843 2971 3372
Passcode: 326264

Stone Marrow is a choreographic excavation—an embodied listening to the deep time held beneath the feet of three collaborators: Elizabeth Flinsch, Kayla Schiltgen, and Jesse Schmitz-Boyd. Anchored in the geological histories of the places they call home, the work attends to land not as backdrop, but as an active, remembering body. Rock strata, riverbeds, glacial scars, and sedimented ground become scores for movement, shaping how the dancers gather weight, yield, resist, and endure.

The choreography navigates where the dancers have come from, where they stand now, and the uncertain steps ahead. In this meeting of geological time and human time, Stone Marrow asks how the landscapes we move through can awaken us—how paying close attention to land might reveal not only where we belong, but who we are becoming.

Directed and Produced by Elizabeth Flinsch. Choreographed and performed in collaboration with Kayla Schiltgen and Jesse Schmitz-Boyd.

Friday, February 20 at 7:00pm
Saturday, February 21 at 2:30pm
Saturday, February 21 at 5:00pm
Price: Pay as you wish, $0-18 suggested donation

Please plan to arrive at least 10 minutes early. We will be securing the doors to the building at the start of the performance.

Elizabeth Flinsch is a fiscal year 2025 recipient of a Creative Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Twin Cities Ballet’s smash-hit original production, Romeo & Juliet: The Rock Ballet, is back by popular demand! First premiered in March 2025, Romeo & Juliet: The Rock Ballet is an electrifying fusion of Shakespeare’s timeless story with the iconic music of Queen.

Friday, February 27 at 7:30pm
Saturday, February 28 at 7:30pm
Sunday, March 1 at 2:00pm
Get tickets here!

This groundbreaking performance comes to life with the high-energy sounds of local band Mark Joseph’s Dragon Attack live on stage, creating an experience that will thrill both ballet enthusiasts and fans of Queen’s music!

Set in a dystopian future where rival gangs battle for survival and dominance in a post-apocalyptic urban wasteland, this visually stunning production takes Romeo and Juliet into a bold, modern world with breathtaking choreography, original set, costume, lighting, and captivating multimedia projections. This sensory feast will fuel your imagination and keep you on the edge of your seat with its thrilling modern twist on the classic story.

Prepare to be swept away by Shakespeare’s tragic love story reimagined for a new generation—packed with heart, intensity, passion, and fantastic dancing. Romeo & Juliet: The Rock Ballet is more than just a show; it’s an unforgettable, high-octane, emotional ride all wrapped in the epic soundscape of Queen’s music that you won’t want to miss.

The site-specific outdoor Winter Sound Garden returns to the wooded banks of the Mississippi River at Crosby Farm Regional Park for the St. Paul Winter Carnival’s free and family-friendly “Winter Play Day” event. This performance will feature a roving site-specific movement score by dancers Gabe Anderson, Sarah Baumert, Suzette Gilreath, and Erika Hansen, in collaboration with Krista Langberg and JG Everest.

The immersive, self-guided Winter Sound Garden is a sound and performance installation featuring over 50 small speakers, each playing a different part of composer/director JG Everest’s spatial symphony, spread out across a couple of acres. Additionally, there will be bonfires, s’mores, live storytelling with Lisa Yankton, embedded poetry, a special winter song by Blue Lady and her Mni Choir, and other fun activities in the park.

Winter Play Day at Crosby Farm Regional Park in St. Paul:
Saturday, February 28
11:00am-2:00pm
Free! Dress warm for outdoor winter conditions!
Registration recommended (so we can contact you in the event of a weather cancellation).

Hear audience reflections or see a short video from last year’s Winter Sound Garden at Winter Play Day!

American Icons, a tribute to three dance legends, features live orchestra and iconic works that shaped American dance history.

Thursday, March 5 at 7:30pm
Northrop Auditorium

Witness the enduring spirit that defines the Joffrey’s maverick legacy in dynamic pieces by three trailblazing 20th-century artists: “Kettentanz,” Arpino’s ticket to Old Vienna (music by Strauss, Mayer); Graham’s abstract, playful “Secular Games” (Starer); Robert Joffrey’s whimsical and luscious “Postcards”; and Glen Tetley’s transcendent “Voluntaries” (Poulenc), with Northrop Organist Greg Zelek on our glorious pipe organ.

Experience Encore Delights: Dinner, Dance, Dessert!
Thursday, March 5 beginning at 5:30pm

Dinner at 5:30pm
Join us for an intimate and delightful pre-show dinner with the artistic leaders of The Joffrey Ballet before the performance. Enjoy great conversation and a delicious meal in the company of fellow supporters of the arts.

Dance at 7:30pm
Be enthralled by The Joffrey Ballet: American Icons, a tribute celebrating four dance legends. Tickets to this soaring performance sold separately. Purchase your performance ticket to complete your evening. 

Dessert at 9:30pm
Cap-off the evening at an exclusive post-show reception. Raise a glass during a sparkling toast, savor delectable desserts, and mingle with the dancers to savor the experience of a lifetime.

Join Us!
Mingle with fellow arts lovers and members of The Joffrey Ballet at our spring Encore fundraiser gala! This special event enhances your experience of The Joffrey Ballet: American Icons performance with an elegant pre-show dinner and a post-show dessert and celebratory toast with the artists.

One night only: After the Last Red Sky (2024) is a dance performance and ritual gathering to hold the weight of—and imagine healing for—the Palestinian sky. A sky where violence hovers and falls on Palestinian bodies. A sky carrying a folk belief of a whale eating the lunar-eclipsing moon. A blood-red sky. In this work we ask what it means to dig down into the rubble of decades of attacks on Palestinian Aliveness to re-member our sky. To move through grief and rage together in community, so we don’t collapse under its weight.

This work is created by Body Watani Dance Project with a village of collaborators, and originally premiered in November 2024 at the Southern Theater. We are reviving the work to share once again with our Twin Cities community—for one night only—before we go on tour.

Friday, March 6 at 7:00pm
Tickets are $10-$50 or pay-as-able day of.

If you saw the performance the first time, come back to witness new layers of live music and the transformation of the choreography imbued by our residency at Dar Jacir in Palestine last summer.

We need our people to send us off with a blessing to take After the Last Red Sky on tour to Dearborn and Chicago!

The beloved children’s book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, comes to life in Ballet Co.Laboratory’s bite-sized ballet for young audiences. Colorful visuals and pre/post-show activities make it the perfect introduction to live performance.

Choreographed by 2026 Laboratory II Emerging Choreographer, Alejandra Emilia Iannone. Performed by Upper Level Students of The School of Ballet Co.Laboratory with music by Vince Guaraldi (made famous by Charles Schulz’s Peanuts cartoons).

The FermentationLAB ([still a]pilot program) is a no cost month long space and time curated laboratory to begin, develop, workshop, clean, finalize, play, research, and/or ferment movement-based works.

Doma Dance Theater is hosting Alexandra Bodnarchuk and Marcela Michelle for the month of February to develop new work. Please join us in a shared show-and-tell on Saturday, March 14, at 4:00pm and 6:30pm.

Limited tickets available here.
Sliding scale ticketing starting at $15. All proceeds support the artists.
Run time is approximately 90 minutes.

Join us at The O’Shaughnessy at Saint Catherine University for a heartfelt celebration honoring TU Dance Founder and Artistic Director, Toni Pierce-Sands. This vibrant evening of movement, memory, and community features live performances of works especially meaningful to Toni, interwoven with storytelling and archival photos and video that illuminate her illustrious life, career, and legacy. Together, we will celebrate the energy, grace, and passion that define Toni’s enduring spirit—and the boundless ripples she has created in the dance world that will inspire generations to come.

Friday, April 24 and Saturday April 25 at 7:30pm

See Ticket Office information here. For accessibility information, please click here.

Aparna Ramaswamy’s newest work—Ananta, The Eternal—weaves together threads of body, memory, desire, and devotion. Sisters and acclaimed Bharatanatyam dancers/choreographers, Aparna Ramaswamy and Ashwini Ramaswamy, come together for their first duet evening.

Ananta describes the eternal relationship between the deity and the devotee. The experience of beholding the image of a deity with one’s own eyes is a central act of worship and charged with meaning—it is reciprocal and electric. The sacred is present in this auspicious moment; through the meeting of the eyes, one gains the grace of the divine.

Friday, May 1 at 7:30pm
Location: Luminary Arts Center
Buy your tickets here!