MINNEAPOLIS (Oct. 31, 2011) - The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts today announced the performance schedule for Minnesota Dance Theatre's production of Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy. Now in its 47th year, this classic is Minnesota's longest running holiday show enjoyed by more than a million people since its first season.

Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy runs for eight performances only, from Friday, December 23 through Saturday, December 31. A complete performance schedule is attached.

Tickets are $36 and can be purchased in person at The Cowles Center box office Tuesday - Friday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm and Saturday & Sunday two hours prior to performances or by phone at 612.306.3600. Tickets can be purchased online anytime at www.thecowlescenter.org.

On December 27 and 28 Minnesota Dance Theatre will host special Nutcracker Fantasy Tea Parties at 12:45pm, prior to the matinee performances. Bring the magic of this classic holiday story to life for your family in an exclusive Tea Party with sweet treats and sandwiches. Receive pictures of your children with Sugar Plum Fairy or The Nutcracker, tour backstage and take home a distinctive memento. Special tickets for both the performance and the Tea Party are priced at $50 for adults, $45 for children 12 and under and are available through The Cowles Center box office.

This classic holiday ballet tells the story of young Marie and a fanciful journey through the Land of Snow and the Land of Sweets with her Nutcracker Prince. Come delight in the dance of the Sugar Plum fairy, witness the drama of the nefarious Rat Queen and be entertained by the antics of the hilarious Madame Bonbonniere as they captivate young Marie in this holiday favorite.

Minnesota Dance Theatre Artistic Director Lise Houlton directs this masterpiece, (choreographed by her mother, MDT founder Loyce Houlton), with more than 70 dancers, including MDT company dancers, guest artists (to be announced at a later date) and students from its Dance Institute, in a production filled with dazzling costumes and lavish sets. This year, the stunning Tchaikovsky score will be pre-recorded, due to ongoing work on The Cowles Center's unfinished orchestra pit.

Nutcracker Fantasy is the culmination of the holiday season at The Cowles Center. The December line-up includes a full slate of family-friendly shows, including the high-kicking Starettes of Minnesota PerformDance, the manic energy of Buckets and Tap Shoes, Zenon Dance Company's The Nutcracker According to Mother Goose and the acclaimed vocal ensemble Cantus with their Christmas concert.

About Minnesota Dance Theatre

Minnesota Dance Theatre is a non-profit professional dance company and school that brings together classical ballet and contemporary techniques in an all-encompassing dance aesthetic. Founder Loyce Houlton, one of the first American women to gain national and international recognition as a choreographer, teacher and producer, founded the company in 1962. MDT celebrates a deep and personal connection to its past, it is presently flourishing with renewed creativity and energy springing from Lise Houlton's artistic leadership. Under her direction, the company and school aspire to maintain the highest international artistic standards, and attract audiences, dancers, choreographers and students from all cultural and economic backgrounds to the art of dance.

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 Center's 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.

Minnesota Dance Theatre

Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy

Friday, December 23 - 7pm (Opening Night) Saturday, December 24 - 12pm Monday, December 26 - 4pm Tuesday, December 27 - Tea Party at 12:45pm, performance at 2pm Wednesday, December 28 - Tea Party at 12:45pm, performance at 2pm Thursday December 29 - 4pm Friday, December 30 - 7pm Saturday, December 31 - 4pm

Single tickets - $36

DECEMBER AT THE COWLES CENTER

Location: The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts

528 Hennepin Avenue South at 6th Street, Minneapolis

Tickets: The Cowles Center Box Office

612.206.3600

11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Tuesday - Friday and Saturday & Sunday two hours prior to performances Online anytime at www.thecowlescenter.org

Minnesota PerformDance

All Wrapped Up Featuring the Starettes

Friday, December 2 - 7:30pm (Opening Night) Saturday, December 3 - 2pm Single tickets - $15-19

Buckets and Tap Shoes

Friday, December 9 - 8pm (Opening Night) Saturday, December 10 - 8pm Sunday, December 11 - 7pm Single tickets - $24

Zenon Dance Company

The Nutcracker According to Mother Goose Saturday, December 17 - 1pm & 5pm Sunday, December 18 - 1pm & 5pm Single tickets - $15-20

Minnesota Dance Theatre

Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy

Friday, December 23 - 7pm (Opening Night) Saturday, December 24 - 12pm Monday, December 26 - 4pm Tuesday, December 27 - 2pm Wednesday, December 28 - 2pm Thursday December 29 - 4pm Friday, December 30 - 7pm Saturday, December 31 - 4pm Single tickets - $36

Contact: Andrea Tonsfeldt

612.206.3631

atonsfeldt@thecowlescenter.org