Minneapolis, Jan. 6, 2016 – The Cowles Center for Dance & The Performing Arts is gearing up for the second half of its 2015-16 performance season, featuring a diverse and exciting line-up of dance companies and vocal performers. Following up an acclaimed fall season that concluded with the return of the ever-popular Nutcracker (not so) Suite, The Cowles Center is bringing even more dynamic and artistically charged performances to the stage for the second half of the year.

Beginning in February, a highlight of the second half of the season will be the return of Aparna Ramaswamy to The Cowles Center. Co-Artistic Director of Ragamala Dance, Ramaswamy’s work has won acclaim with critics and audiences from New York to India to the Twin Cities. Described as “rapturous and profound” (The New York Times) Ramaswamy brings the exciting style of Bharatanatyam to the stage in a thrilling solo work performed with live music. Adding to the excitement in February is hip-hop company, SHAPESHIFT. With contemporary choreography, urban vibes, and smooth storytelling, this local company puts on a show that is gaining them national notoriety— including a performance at the Target Center with touring artist Natalie La Rose.

Another nationally renowned company, AXIS Dance Company returns to the Twin Cities to inspire audiences with their powerful contemporary dance form— physically integrated dance. These internationally renowned pioneers of dance deliver innovative performances while changing the face of dance and disability. In conjunction with this performance, The Cowles Center will also be working with organizations to offer classes for people living with disabilities during outreach programs throughout the week leading up to the performance.

Later in the season, The Cowles Center will see the collaboration of two stellar companies in one exciting show: Black Label Movement and Contempo Physical Dance will storm The Goodale Theater stage for two not-to-be-missed weekends in June. Black Label Movement, with its wildly physical and engaging choreography, and Contempo Physical Dance, with its dynamic fusion of Afro-Brazilian movement, will join artistically to create a truly unforgettable dance experience.

Returning for the second half of The Cowles Center’s fifth season are James Sewell Ballet and Zenon Dance Company, whose fall shows garnered strong reviews and praise from audiences, along with Minnesota Dance Theatre, Shapiro & Smith Dance, TU Dance, Saint Paul Ballet and Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre, who returns to enthrall audiences with the beauty and energy of Spanish dance.

Coming in March, The Cowles Center will see performances from two groups new to our stage- the Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota will present a twist on classical ballet with Cinderella 1944: A Love Story, and Vocal Essence will add innovative, enticing choral music to a 2015/16 list of vocal performances that includes Marcia Griffiths, Johnnie Brown, and Cantus, returning next spring with their ever-popular Covers concert.

The Cowles Center continues to work with various companies to deepen audience engagement with a post-show talk back series and presents a full schedule of student matinees for Minnesota schools. In its second year, The Cowles Center’s participatory lecture and panel series continues with its focus on unraveling the histories that are part of the Twin Cities dance communities. After the start of the new year, we will discuss the exciting challenges of performing dances outdoors, dance journalism, and remounting important choreography from the past. These free lectures take place on Jan. 10, Apr. 10, and June 5.

Tickets for the 2015/16 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 $36 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 2015/16 season.
10% discount at Mason’s Restaurant.
Early ticket buying to all events at The Cowles.
$5 parking to all events at The Cowles.
$1 off adult beverages 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; the Illusion Theater; the James Sewell TEK Box; and the U.S. Bank