Contact: Dana Munson

612.206.3630

dmunson@thecowlescenter.org

Minneapolis, Sept. 1, 2015 – In its fifth year, The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts’ Student Matinee Series introduces K-12 students to professional dance performance through interactive school-time performances in the historic Goodale Theater. For its 2015/16 Performance Season, The Cowles Center is excited to partner with MPS Arts’ Cultural Experiences Partnership program in hosting Minneapolis 8th graders throughout its matinee season.

As a partner in the Cultural Experiences Partnership program, The Cowles Center invites students to one of its nine student matinees throughout the school year. At no cost to the students or schools, the 60-minute program includes both performance, and interactive Q&A with the artists. To help teachers and students prepare for the performance, and to increase accessibility to the arts, The Cowles Center will provide an interactive study guide to each school prior to its visit. Included in the study guide will be artist and performance information, dance vocabulary lists, multimedia resources, and classroom activities. During these matinees, students are encouraged to be active participants by questioning dance, engaging their curiosity, envisioning themselves as dancers and art-makers, and moving their bodies either from their seats or on the stage.

In its inaugural year, this program continues the mission of both The Cowles Center and MPS Arts in ensuring that students across the district have quality arts and cultural experiences and education.

About The Cowles Center

The Cowles Center for Dance & The Performing Arts is the Twin Cities’ flagship for dance in Minnesota. Centrally located in downtown Minneapolis, The Cowles Center includes the refurbished 500-seat Goodale Theater; the former 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 Center’s innovative distance learning program; the Illusion Theater; the James Sewell Ballet TEK Box and the U.S. Bank Atrium. The Cowles Center is a catalyst for the creation, presentation, education, enjoyment and celebration of dance and the performing arts in the Twin Cities.

2015-16 Student Matinee Series

James Sewell Ballet

Ballet

October 23 @ 10:30am

Threads Dance Project

Modern

November 6 @ 10:30am

Ragamala Dance

Bharatanatyam

February 18 @ 10:30am

SHAPESHIFT

Hip Hop

February 26 @ 10:30am

AXIS Dance Company

Physically Integrated Dance

April 7 @ 10:30am

Zorongo Flamenco

Flamenco

April 15 @ 10:30am

James Sewell Ballet

Ballet

April 28 @ 10:30am

Zenon Dance Company

Modern/Jazz

May 13 @ 10:30am

TU Dance

Modern

May 19 @ 10:30am