A Few Tales… will be a unique experience of Minnesota dance history spanning the last 50 years, and it all started with modern dance classes at the University of Minnesota. Come see Patrick on stage telling stories and sharing videos of his work.
Patrick took his first dance classes at the University of Minnesota in 1972. He’s been part of the Twin Cities dance scene ever since. The show, located at the Barbara Barker Center for Dance, will focus on his dance history as he shares personal stories of the past as a local artist, activist, and provocateur. For decades, Patrick has pushed the edge with particular emphasis on being out as a gay man.
The structure of A Few Tales… is based on the TV show Jeopardy. Behind each box is at least one story and includes a video of his work. The audience determines the flow of the show choosing box by box among six categories, each with five choices, to determine the evening’s stories. The dance categories include: Contact Improvisation, Dance Spaces, Choreographed Works, Solo Shows, $urvival, and Activism in Dance. The five choices in each category span five decades: the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, and 10s.
Patrick Scully was among the first dance artists in Minnesota to experience contact improvisation, and it has been central to his work for half a century. He’s known for works ranging from intimate/autobiographical to boat ballets on rivers in Minnesota and Germany. In 1986, he founded Patrick’s Cabaret, making the local performing arts ecosystem more inclusive and democratic. He’s had eight different spaces in town.
Patrick has been called a provocateur, free speech champion, impresario, raconteur, choreographer, performance artist, orator, storyteller, pioneer, and activist. He’ll be telling these personal stories and showing videos of his performing works.
Just show up! This program is by donation.