Archive: Other Dance News

Ananya Dance Theatre Introduces New Managing Director and Operations Manager

Gary Peterson, Managing Director, will retire from day-to-day performing arts management on October 31, 2023. He will be working with his successors – Jennifer (Jennie) Ward as Managing Director and Hadiya Shire as Operations Manager – during the transition through October. Both Ward and Shire joined Ananya Dance Theatre on January 3.

In other staff news, after eight years as ADT’s Production Manager, Emma Marlar has left to pursue her own artistic interests. Jessie Storovich assumed Marler’s role as Production Manager for the 2022 production of Nün Gherāo.

See full announcement here.

MFA in Dance at Minnesota State University, Mankato

The Department of Theatre and Dance at Minnesota State University, Mankato is accepting applications for Fall 2023.

This three-year program includes tracks in performance and choreography, and offers teaching opportunities and graduate assistantships. Applicants will have opportunities to choreograph and perform in annual dance concerts and theatrical productions in the beautiful, newly renovated 450-seat Ted Paul Theatre and the intimate Andreas theatre.

Students will have the opportunity to attend the ACDA conferences and guest artists are invited into the program for residencies. Students are supported by thirteen faculty and staff members in the department with specialties including choreography, dance performance, history, lighting, costuming, musical theatre, directing, scenic design, and public relations.

For information or to apply, email Daniel Stark at daniel.stark@mnsu.edu.

Earn Your MN K-12 Dance Teaching License

Interested in earning a Minnesota K-12 dance teaching license? 

Consider the University of Minnesota’s Arts in Education program, which leads to both a K-12 dance license and an MEd! Our post-baccalaureate program integrates educational theory with classroom practice in dance to prepare future educators for a career in K-12 education. 

Are you already licensed in another field and want to add an additional dance license?
Then the ​Additional Licensure Program (ALP) is right for you. You can earn your license to teach K-12 arts education in dance through the additional licensure program, which meets the needs of working teachers. Classes held either in the evening or the summer. 

Program Details: Our ​Initial License​ and ​Additional License​ students complete licensing requirements in 13 months (3+ semesters). All initial licensure and additional license coursework, including student teaching at both the elementary and secondary level, meets Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) requirements for discipline-specific K-12 licensure in Theatre Arts.

Application Information: The deadline to apply is January 15. Complete the ​admissions application​ and select either Curriculum and Instruction Arts in Education MEd​ ​and ​Initial Licensure​ ​or​ Curriculum and Instruction Arts in Education​ ​Additional Licensure application​.

Scholarships are available through the College of Education and Human Development. All students planning to pursue the MEd/Initial Licensure are strongly encouraged to submit a scholarship application and also request consideration for both need and merit aid. ​There is one ​application​ for all available CEHD scholarships. 

For more information, contact Dr. Betsy Maloney Leaf at malo0069@umn.edu.

Double Your Impact: Consider Supporting AMP this GttMD

Please consider supporting Alternative Motion Project this Give to the Max Day as we usher in a new era/decade of Moving BIG. We are hopping to reach our $10,000 goal and each donation will be matched (up to $5,000) making your donation in any size even more impactful.

Funds will directly support our efforts to empower and connect artists and audiences through contemporary dance.

Where does your generosity go? Your support helps people!
81% of our FY21 budget went directly to pay personnel.

Help AMP move into our next decade of dance as we support AMP’s artists and audiences alongside the broader MN dance community through creation, performance, and engagement opportunities.

We are expanding our performance and education programs this year. Any donation gets us closer to achieving our goal of equitable and competitive compensation for our personnel’s valuable work.

Your contributions will greatly impact and support a smooth and steady transition year as Joanna Lees shifts to AMP’s sole Artistic and Executive Director. AMP returned to The Southern Theater forViewPoints ’22 in October, which included audience engagement, community master classes and new work commissions by local dance artists Nieya Amezquita, Rachel Lieberman, Alexandra Bodnarchuk, and Body Watani/Noelle and Leila Awadallah.

Current and upcoming programing includes:

  • Move to the MAX: Virtual Edition ’22 – November 2022
    • AMP supports and builds community within movement organizations with a unique performance event occurring all online and on-demand.
  • AMP’s Second Annual Winter Workshop – December 2022
    • A three-day workshop for local professionals and students to connect through artistic development opportunities.
  • AMP’s eleventh Spring Season Performance* – April 2023
    • The addition of a second weekend of performances featuring all new works by Company Member Zoë Koenig, Guest Choreographers Brianna Rae Johnson and Khary Jackson, and a new collaboration between Joanna Lees and Sound Artist Dameun Strange.
    • *This activity will occur pending grant funding, TBD December 2022.
  • Amplified Summer Workshop – Summer 2023
    • This five-day workshop will invites participants to engage in various movement practices, improvisation, creative process, and repertory material.

Thank you for your consideration. Regardless, please don’t forget to support your local nonprofits now through Thursday, November 17.

With Gratitude and Appreciation,

Joanna Lees, and AMP’s Artists and Board

Give to the Max Day – Please Consider a Gift to ARENA DANCES

ARENA DANCES is participating in the thirteenth annual Give to the Max giving event taking place this year starting on Tuesday, November 1, and culminating on Thursday, November 17. Give to the Max is a statewide giving event that raises millions each year for more than 6,000 causes across Minnesota and beyond. Considered Minnesota’s holiday for generosity, donors have given more than $225 million since the inaugural Give to the Max Day in 2009.

Please consider making a generous gift to ARENA DANCES this November to support numerous impactful upcoming projects in the 2022/2023 season, including:

The continuation and expansion of ARENA’s DanceON educational outreach program, focused on incorporating dance into K-12 Minneapolis Public Schools, along with the development of workshops for professional performing artists to acquire skills of dance pedagogy to teach in these K-12 academic settings. This season, DanceON will hold residencies in the Lucy Laney Community School and Hall STEM Academy.

The seventh annual CANDY BOX Dance Festival, which aims to offer masterclasses, panel discussions, performances featuring both emerging and established choreographers, and more taking place April 24-29, 2023 at The Southern Theater.

Sponsor a dancer towards the research for ARENA’s next work entitled Erased Steps, beginning with the $6,000 needed for movement generating rehearsals starting in January 2023 with the talented Dustin Haug, Leslie O’Neill, and Laura Selle Virtucio. Erased Steps will premiere in fall 2023 with a cast of 12-16 Twin Cities dancers at the Union Depot in St. Paul.

Our goal is to raise $12,000 this Give to the Max season to further ARENA’s impact in creative education, arts engagement, and curation of live performances to share with our wonderful dance community.

We thank you for your contribution and consideration.

Give to the Max Day – Please Consider a Gift to ARENA DANCES

ARENA DANCES is participating in the thirteenth annual Give to the Max giving event taking place this year starting on Tuesday, November 1, and culminating on Thursday, November 17. Give to the Max is a statewide giving event that raises millions each year for more than 6,000 causes across Minnesota and beyond. Considered Minnesota’s holiday for generosity, donors have given more than $225 million since the inaugural Give to the Max Day in 2009.

Please consider making a generous gift to ARENA DANCES this November to support numerous impactful upcoming projects in the 2022/2023 season, including:

The continuation and expansion of ARENA’s DanceON educational outreach program, focused on incorporating dance into K-12 Minneapolis Public Schools, along with the development of workshops for professional performing artists to acquire skills of dance pedagogy to teach in these K-12 academic settings. This season, DanceON will hold residencies in the Lucy Laney Community School and Hall STEM Academy.

The seventh annual CANDY BOX Dance Festival, which aims to offer masterclasses, panel discussions, performances featuring both emerging and established choreographers, and more taking place April 24-29, 2023 at The Southern Theater.

Sponsor a dancer towards the research for ARENA’s next work entitled Erased Steps, beginning with the $6,000 needed for movement generating rehearsals starting in January 2023 with the talented Dustin Haug, Leslie O’Neill, and Laura Selle Virtucio. Erased Steps will premiere in Fall 2023 with a cast of 12-16 Twin Cities dancers at the Union Depot in St. Paul.

Our goal is to raise $12,000 this GTM Season to further ARENA’s impact in creative education, arts engagement, and curation of live performances to share with our wonderful dance community.

We thank you for your contribution and consideration.

Abdo Sayegh-Rodriguez Named Dance/USA Board-Chair Elect

Join us in congratulating TU Dance Executive Director Abdo Sayegh-Rodriguez as he has been named recently as Board Chair Elect of Dance/USA, the national service organization for professional dance, serving a broad cross-section of the dance field. Established in 1982, Dance/USA champions an inclusive and equitable dance field by leading, convening, advocating, and supporting individuals and organizations.

TU Dance has been a member of Dance/USA for many years.

Read more here.

The Arena – Rent Space with Us

Located in the heart of the Lyn-Lake community, The Arena is available for your rehearsal, class and event needs!

Our space offers:

  • 1,305 square feet (30×40) of sprung floor
  • Marley dance flooring
  • Full wall-length mirrors (with curtains for covering if preferred)
  • Free wi-fi
  • Changing room

We are situated on multiple bus lines, including the 21, 4, 23, 612, 18, with plenty of FREE side street parking around the building.

To request space, please email Mathew: arenadances@gmail.com.

MFA in Dance Program at MSU Mankato

The Department of Theatre and Dance at Minnesota State University, Mankato is excited to announce the addition of the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Dance degree to our Graduate Program. We are now accepting applications for Fall 2021. This three-year program includes tracks in performance and choreography and offers teaching opportunities, as well as graduate assistantships. The program offers applicants an opportunity to choreograph and perform in annual dance concerts and theatrical productions in beautiful venues including the newly renovated 450 seat Ted Paul Theatre, the intimate Andreas black box theatre, and multiple dance studios.

Graduate Students in the MFA Dance Program will have the opportunity to attend the annual American College Dance Association conference in the spring. Guest artists are invited into the program annually for performances of residencies.

Students are supported by 13 faculty and staff members in the department with specialties including choreography, dance performance, history, lighting, costuming, musical theatre, directing, scenic design and public relations.

Those seeking more information or wishing to apply to the MFA in Dance Program please email Daniel Stark at daniel.stark@mnsu.edu.