Contact: Dana Munson

612.206.3630

dmunson@thecowlescenter.org

Minneapolis, Sept. 1, 2015 – The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts is initiating a four-day Dance residency program provided to all first grade students in Minneapolis Public Schools during the 2015/16 school year. Spearheaded by Jessi Fett, The Cowles Center’s Education Director, this program, alongside the “Dance Without Barriers” residency program, will expand The Cowles Center’s current reach from 300 sessions to nearly 900 for the upcoming school year. These residencies will be offered in conjunction with existing Minnesota physical education classes.

An expansion of MPS Arts’ Cultural Experiences Partnerships program, residencies will tie into two key Minnesota physical education standards— demonstrating competency in motor skills and movement patterns, and understanding movement concepts, principles, strategies and tactics. Over the course of the school year, Cowles Center Teaching Artists will work with Minneapolis’ PE Content Lead to deliver four-day residencies for approximately 3000 students across Minneapolis. These residencies, made possible by a grant from AROHA Philanthropies, will offer exposure to quality arts education, enhance current Minnesota physical education standards, and empower PE teachers to incorporate dance vocabulary and concepts into classroom curriculum.

The first of its kind for The Cowles Center, this program continues the mission of both The Cowles Center and MPS Arts to guarantee arts and cultural exposure to every Minneapolis Public School student.

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.