Contact: Erin Harney

612.206.3630

eharney@thecowlescenter.org

Release #0098

FOR RELEASE MAY 16, 2013

PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

SEASON THREE A TRIPLE THREAT AT THE COWLES CENTER

A dynamic line-up of dance, music and theater

Minneapolis, Minn. May 16, 2013 The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts is pleased to announce its 2013-14 performance season, featuring a dynamic line-up of dance companies, vocal performers and theatre. The third season will kick-off with a weekend-long Gala celebration featuring the Golden Dragon Acrobats. The festivities on Friday September 6 will include a cocktail reception, dinner, live auction, program and performance in the Goodale Theater. Saturday September 7 offers a full performance from the Golden Dragon Acrobats with wine reception and access to The Cowles Centers Annual Dance Party, Raze the Barre.

The following weekend Minnesota Concert Opera returns with The Mini-Ring, an abbreviation of Wagners epic Ring Cycle by David Seamans. The first - but not only vocal performance at The Cowles Center this season, as once again, Cantus Vocal Ensemble will perform Fall, Holiday and Spring concerts in addition to returning in June of 2014 with the wildly popular Cantus Covers: A Pop Concert. And new to the performance season is The Singers, celebrating their 10^th Anniversary Season - they will be performing in the Goodale Theater in March of 2014.

The third season of dance at The Cowles Center will welcome back numerous companies from the past two seasons, as well as a few new companies to perform on the Redleaf Stage. James Sewell Ballet(celebrating their 20^th Anniversary Season), Minnesota Dance Theatre and Zenon Dance Companywill all present Fall and Spring seasons. Other returning companies include Beyond Ballroom Dance Company, Black Label Movement, Contempo Physical Dance, Shapiro & Smith Dance, and Stuart Pimsler Dance & Theater (celebrating their 35^th Anniversary Season).Returning from the Inaugural Season are Flying Foot Forum and TU Dance (celebrating their 10^th Anniversary Season).Dance highlights continue with AparnaRamaswamy, Co-Artistic Director of Ragamala Dance and her one-woman show Sannidhi and the third presentation of B-Boy J-Suns wildly popular Hip Hop show.

New companies joining The Cowles Centers season include Ballet of the Dolls, Threads Dance Project, Curio Dance: Drop the Mic!,and Ethnic Dance Theatre(celebrating their 40^th Anniversary).

Not to be forgotten The Cowles Centers third season also includes exciting theatrical offerings, including Off-Leash Area and MU Performing Arts returning with MU Daiko Taiko drumming. In addition, this years holiday offering will be Frank Theaters critically acclaimed TheSantaland Diaries, the satirical piece penned by David Sedaris has become a holiday classic. This season will be Franks 25^th Anniversary. Zenon Dance Company will also present their family show, The Nutcracker according to Mother Goose for the holiday season.

The Cowles Center will again be home to the SAGE Awards for Dance in October, as well as a host location for the Dance USA Conference in June 2014.

A new addition to The Cowles Center is Masons Restaurant and Barre a full-service restaurant and bar that is open for pre-performance dining, as well as offering lunch service, catering, and a grab-and-go style quick service area where students, parents and artists can pop-in before, after, or in-between classes and rehearsals. Masons menu focuses on scratch-made American, quality ingredients at accessible pricing.

The Cowles Center continues to work with various companies to deepen audience engagement with a post-show talk back series and a complete season of student matinees for schools.

Tickets for the 2013-14 season are now on sale through the box office at 612.206.3600 and online at www.thecowlescenter.org. Single ticket prices range from $10 to $36 and discounts are available for Cowles Center Members who purchase four or more companies in the season.

About The Cowles Center

The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts is the Twin Cities' newest arts center and the flagship for dance in Minnesota. Centrally located in downtown Minneapolis, The Cowles Center includes the newly refurbished 500-seat Goodale Theater; the Hennepin Center for the Arts, home to 20 leading dance and performing arts organizations; the state-of-the-art Target Education Studio, housing The Cowles Centers distance learning program; and the new U.S. Bank Atrium. The Cowles Center fills the need for a place that is a catalyst for the creation, presentation, education, enjoyment and celebration of dance and the performing arts in the Twin Cities. www.thecowlescenter.org.