SOLO, and evening of six solo performances from its 2014 and 2015 McKnight Dancer Fellows.
THE COWLES CENTER ANNOUNCES 2016-2017 SEASON
An exciting year, filled with diversity, innovation, and landmark performances.
Minneapolis, July 25, 2016 - The Cowles Center for Dance & The Performing Arts is pleased to announce its 2016-‐17 performance season, featuring groundbreaking artist collaborations, the return of several perennial favorites, and some of the areas strongest emerging voices in dance and the performing arts. In its sixth performance season, The Cowles Center will continue to thrive as the area's flagship for dance through innovative programming, community engagement, and commitment to its mission of making dance and the performing arts accessible to all.
In an effort to provide audiences with varied and diverse programming, The Cowles Center will present several performances featuring multiple artists and collaborations. In its new home, the McKnight Artist Fellowships for Dancers and Choreographers will present SOLO, and evening of six solo performances from its 2014 and 2015 McKnight Dancer Fellows. As part of each Fellowship, the dancers have comissioned choreographers from around the world to create original solo works specifically for SOLO.
The collective work of various artists will also be featured when the Twin Cities Tap Festival and MixTape, a hip hop choreographer’s evening, come to The Cowles Center in October and May, respectively. First, tappers of all ages and abilities will take over The Cowles Center this fall in an array of classes, workshops, and intensives that culminate in two performanaces in the Goodale Theatre. Then, in the spring, Jason Noer brings six hip hop choreographers together for MixTape, a performance highlighting one of the most impactful and fastest growing dance styles in the world.
Building on the success of last season’s final performance, Flying Foot forum and Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre will join forces next spring to create a true artistic collaboration. Integrating dancers, choreographic voices, and varying styles, the two companies will combine to provide a truly unique audience experience. Rhythm and passion will be the themes of what promises to be an unforgettable evening.
Also in the spring, Morgan Thorson brings her critically acclaimed Still Life to the Goodale Theatre for her first performance at The Cowles Center. Held in an intimate setting, the work uses lights, technology and the gradual elimination of choreography to focus on themes of death and loss.
Returning to The Cowles Center in December is last year’s runaway holiday hit, Nutcracker (not so) Suite. Choreographed by Myron Johnson and co produced by The Cowles Center andJames Sewell Ballet, the show earned rave reviews as it put an edgy, 1960s twist on the classic tale. Once again, the show will be full of colorful characters all accompanied by a musical mash-‐up of hip-‐hop, R&B, contemporary tracks, and Christmas carols. Lauded by critics and audiences alike, Nutcracker (Not So) Suite is the Twin Cities’ newest favorite holiday tradition. James Sewell Ballet will also return to perform its spring concert at The Cowles Center.
Others returning to the season’s calendar include Threads Dance Project, Zenon Dance Company, Contempo Physical Dance, Shapiro & Smith, Curio Dance, Minn sota Dance Theatre, Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota, St. Paul Ballet, and Momentum: New Works Dance Festival, which commissions four emerging artists/collectives whose voices have proven unique in the area’s dance community.
The entire season kicks off in The Goodale Theatre in September with Katha DanceTheatre’s presentation of Sufiana~The Sufi Ecstasy. In October The Cowles Center will host its annual GOTTA DANCE! Gala and Raze the Barre After Party. This year’s theme, A Feathered Affair, will be drenched in elegance and edge as we give our nod to the beloved ballet SwanLake. Also in October, The Cowles Center will once again be home to the SAGE awards for Dance, honoring and celebrating Minnesota’s vibrant dance community.
In January, The Cowles Center is excited to bring back the worldly dance style of Bharatanatyam. Written in Water presented by Ragamala Dance Company brings an ongoing investigation of Paramapadam (the 2nd century Indian board game), the 12th century Sufi text The Conference of the Birds, and the philosophical and spiritual underpinnings of both.
New to The Cowles Center~INnovate Dance will bring a unique dance experience where young dancers will perform and receive live feedback, master classes, motivational speakers, and will culminate with a commnity service project. In June, the Metropolitan Ballet will present Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Complete with love triangles, feuding fairy kingdoms, and magic at very turn this classic is a must see for the whole family.
Once again, Cantus, returns next spring with their ever~popular Covers concert. In collaboration with some of the Twin Cities’ most talented musicians, Cantus arranges and performs the everyday classics of our time. Whether it’s music from the ‘60s, the ‘80s or something brand new, Covers will have you singing and dancing in the aisles.
The Cowles Center continues to work with various companies to deepen audience engagement with a post~showtalk back series and presents a full schedule of student matinees for Minnesota schools. In its third year, Minnesota Dance and the Ecstasies of Influences lecture series continues with its focus on unraveling the histories that are part of the Twin Cities dance communities. Its participatory storytelling format becomes a collective remembering with guest speakers from the local dance communities. It is a way to draw on our pasts together as a means to envision our futures. These free lectures take place on select Sundays throughout the season.
Tickets for the 2016/17 season are now on sale through The Cowles Center box office at 612.206.3600 and online at www.thecowlescenter.org. Single ticket prices range from $10 to $50 and discounts are available for members of The Cowles Club. For a $50 membership fee, The Cowles club members receive the following benefits:
• 20% off all tickets purchased.
• Two free guest passes during the 2016/17 season.
• 10% discount at Mason’s Restaurant.
• $5 parking to all events at The Cowles.
• $1 off house beer or wine at U.S. Bank Atrium’s concession.
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; 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.
Contact: Dana Munson
612.206.3630
dmunson@thecowlescenter.org
