Archive: Performances and Events

Ray Terrill Dance Group presents the 21st annual Dances at the Lake Festival!

Join us for two free, open-to-the-public concerts at the Rose Garden at Lake Harriet.
Friday, July 14 at 7:00pm
Saturday, July 15 at 7:00pm

The festival features a variety of dance forms performed by both professional adult and youth companies. The “stage” for the shows is the large grassy area between the two fountains near the Rose Garden at Lyndale Park Garden. Audience members are invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket and some snacks, drinks, or a picnic and enjoy the unique opportunity of seeing dance performed at the Rose Garden.

2023 Dances at the Lakes Festival: Individual Artist and Dance Company Lineup
This year’s festival showcases professional artists and youth dance groups originating from Minnesota:

Amanda Sachs and Elena (Elly) Hollenhorst, Minneapolis, MN—Amanda and Elly, Co-Artistic Directors
Anda Flamenco Company and School, Minneapolis, MN—Kristina de Sacramento, Artistic Director
Ashley Ballet Arts Academy, Ballet Arts Youth Ensembles, Golden Valley, MN—Ashley Burkland, Artistic Director
Christopher Watson Dance Company, Minneapolis, MN—Christopher Watson, Artistic Director
DanceWorks, Lakeville, MN—Jennifer Mack, Artistic Director
Duniya Drum and Dance, Minneapolis, MN—Fode Bangoura and Whitney McCluskey, Co-Artistic Directors
Jawaahir Dance Company, Minneapolis, MN—Laura Crocker, Artistic Director
Keane Sense Of Rhythm Youth Tap Ensemble, Saint Paul, MN— Cathy Wind, Artistic Director
Kinetic Evolutions, Minneapolis, MN—Sarah LaRose-Holland, Artistic Director
Nritya Kalakshetra Academy of Performing Arts, Woodbury, MN—Sivanuja (Anu) Balaji, Artistic Director
Ray Terrill Dance Group, Saint Paul, MN—Ray Terrill Artistic Director
Sansai Yonsei Kai, Japanese Dance Company, Saint Paul, MN—Linda Hashimoto, Artistic Director
Tiyumba African Drum and Dance Company, Minneapolis, MN—Fatawu Sayibu, Artistic Director
Youth Dance Ensemble, Burnsville, MN—Dixie Rairamo, Artistic Director

Twin Cities Flamenco Collective inspires audiences through its passionate and soulful expressions of flamenco music and dance alongside special guest artists.

Sunday, July 16 at 5:00pm
Part of TCFC’s monthly residency at Icehouse MPLS.

Performers
Melinda Hedgecorth – Special guest from Kansas City – flamenco dancer
Brigid Bollweg – Special guest – flamenco dancer and singer
Cecilia Calvo – Special guest – flamenco dancer
Eva Makiko – TCFC – flamenco dancer
Ross “El Vecino” – TCFC – flamenco guitarist
Sachiko “La Chayí” – TCFC – flamenco dancer
Trevor May – Special guest – flamenco guitarist

Green Minneapolis presents Summer at Peavey Plaza – an outdoor series of over 100 free performances taking place May through September, featuring the best of local Twin Cities music, dance, and theater in a beautiful outdoor setting. ARENA DANCES is thrilled to return to Peavey Plaza again this year!

ARENA DANCES will presents Run With Me, Erased Steps (excerpt), and quartet.
Saturday, July 22
2:00-2:45pm

Free to attend.
No RSVP necessary.
Click here to learn more about Green Minneapolis and Peavey Plaza events.

Floorwork: a communal conversation and shared meal.

Every first Saturday! Floorwork was developed to hold conversations, knowledge sharing, and supportive space for dance artists and people who like to move.

The next Floorwork is being hosted at Red Eye Theater.
Saturday, August 5
12:00-2:00pm – new time
RSVP by Friday, August 4

This August Floorwork will focus on practice/perseverance for a desired long dance career – conversation assisted by Marciano Silva dos Santos of Contempo Physical Dance and independent teachers and performers Erin Thompson and Leslie O’Neill. 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.

Sampradaya – The Sanskrit word is by definition, “tradition.” In practice, it represents transference while infusing innovation. Tradition sustains beauty and provides foundation and framework. From tradition, we imbibe, create, iterate, and share. Sampradaya lights the next lamp.

Kala Vandanam presents a twentieth anniversary (in our twenty-first year) ensemble Bharatanatyam concert with live music, celebrating signature choreographic works of the great masters who lit our lamps.

We are honored to make our Cowles Center debut with this concert. Tickets are Pay As You Are.

Kala Vandanam was founded by Suchitra Sairam in 2002, grounded in the beauty and depth of the South Indian dance form Bharatanatyam. Through grooming new generations of dance artists, community outreach, stage performance, and aesthetic presentation, Kala Vandanam’s holistic work seamlessly bridges East and West, past and present, dynamism and serenity.

Described by audiences as having “brought exceptional grace and beauty into the city” and as “formidable.” Leaving audiences feeling “elated” and “entertained, educated, and uplifted at the same time.” Kala Vandanam “showed us that even though the language and historical context differ, communication, emotion and the human experience are transcendental.”

July 1 at 7:00pm

James Sewell Ballet company members, intensive students, and friends present samples from recent rehearsals of work taking shape for the 2023/24 season. Featured works include:

• New choreography by Shohei Iwahama. Originally from Japan and currently touring internationally with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Shohei’s completed piece will be premiered at the Cowles Center in April 2024.
• James Sewell’s Doo Be Doo  (premiered in 1994) combines high-energy playful antics with stunning technical feats. This remount will also be shared at the Cowles Center in April 2024.
• JSB friend Berit Ahlgren shares choreography developed specifically for the intensive students.

The event will include several other surprises that spark the joy and wonder that dance can inspire!

Admission is free!
July 1 at 6:00pm

After a three-year pandemic slumber, DanceCo returns to the stage with a series of free, interactive, family-friendly outdoor performances. Meet Paul Bunyan and Babe, and be ready to join the dancers onstage as we learn facts about Minnesota in movement and fun!

This show will begin with a short kid-focused workshop to move and learn the interactive parts of the show, followed by a 45-minute performance with opportunities to join the dancers onstage!

You will learn about Minnesota’s history, move, and have a great time! Fun for ages 3-103, guaranteed—or you can get your money back! Come to one show, or come to all!

Saturday, July 1, 2023
Performances at 10:00am and 11:30am
Minnehaha Falls Park Pavilion, 4825 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55417

Saturday, July 8, 2023
Performances at 10:00am and 11:30am
Raspberry Island, 2 Wabasha Street, St. Paul, MN 55107

Saturday, July 15, 2023
Performances at 10:00am and 11:30am
The Downtown Commons, 425 Portland Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55415

To learn about DanceCo and our professional artists, go to www.DanceCoMN.com.

Ray Terrill Dance Group presents the 21st annual Dances at the Lake Festival!

Join us for two free, open-to-the-public concerts at the Rose Garden at Lake Harriet.
Friday, July 14 at 7:00pm
Saturday, July 15 at 7:00pm

The festival features a variety of dance forms performed by both professional adult and youth companies. The “stage” for the shows is the large grassy area between the two fountains near the Rose Garden at Lyndale Park Garden. Audience members are invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket and some snacks, drinks, or a picnic and enjoy the unique opportunity of seeing dance performed at the Rose Garden.

2023 Dances at the Lakes Festival: Individual Artist and Dance Company Lineup
This year’s festival showcases professional artists and youth dance groups originating from Minnesota:

Amanda Sachs and Elena (Elly) Hollenhorst, Minneapolis, MN—Amanda and Elly, Co-Artistic Directors
Anda Flamenco Company and School, Minneapolis, MN—Kristina de Sacramento, Artistic Director
Ashley Ballet Arts Academy, Ballet Arts Youth Ensembles, Golden Valley, MN—Ashley Burkland, Artistic Director
Christopher Watson Dance Company, Minneapolis, MN—Christopher Watson, Artistic Director
DanceWorks, Lakeville, MN—Jennifer Mack, Artistic Director
Duniya Drum and Dance, Minneapolis, MN—Fode Bangoura and Whitney McCluskey, Co-Artistic Directors
Jawaahir Dance Company, Minneapolis, MN—Laura Crocker, Artistic Director
Keane Sense Of Rhythm Youth Tap Ensemble, Saint Paul, MN— Cathy Wind, Artistic Director
Kinetic Evolutions, Minneapolis, MN—Sarah LaRose-Holland, Artistic Director
Nritya Kalakshetra Academy of Performing Arts, Woodbury, MN—Sivanuja (Anu) Balaji, Artistic Director
Ray Terrill Dance Group, Saint Paul, MN—Ray Terrill Artistic Director
Sansai Yonsei Kai, Japanese Dance Company, Saint Paul, MN—Linda Hashimoto, Artistic Director
Tiyumba African Drum and Dance Company, Minneapolis, MN—Fatawu Sayibu, Artistic Director
Youth Dance Ensemble, Burnsville, MN—Dixie Rairamo, Artistic Director