Performances and Events

Threads Dance Project proudly continues its tradition of amplifying new choreographic voices with Tapestries 9.0, a program highlighting emerging choreographers. This year’s production features original works by Colin Edwards, Rachel Lieberman, and Hannah MacKenzie-Margulies, alongside repertory by Artistic Director Karen L. Charles.

The program includes excerpts from Let America Be America, Charles’ powerful work inspired by the chant “Make America Great Again” and the reality that America has never been great for everyone. Through spoken word and dance vignettes, the piece highlights the joys and struggles of “the America that is” and “the America that could be.”

About the Tapestries 9.0 selected works:

• Colin Edwards explores the manifestation of unity and the circadian rhythms of sisterhood, revealing the ebb and flow of connection through the contrasts of night and day.
• Rachel Lieberman is trying to make sense of time. Collaging text, textile, movement memories, griefs, and missing pieces, she is asking everybody: how did I get here, and where are we?
• Hannah MacKenzie-Margulies indulges in millennial nostalgia, reflecting on memories that refuse to fade and futures that failed to materialize, set to a soundtrack of high school anthems resuscitated from home-burned CDs.

Friday, May 2 at 7:30pm
Saturday, May 3 at 7:30pm
Sunday, May 4 at 2:00pm — ASL Interpreted
Tickets: $30 for General Admission, $25 for Seniors, and $22 for Students

Time Piece is a moment of convergence between Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre, the Flying Foot Forum, and Katha Dance Theatre bringing the punch, power, and poetry of the human heart and human nature to the matter of time. Each company brings its earthy folk roots and deep connections to their forms while expanding and expressing a creativity that still rings true in these complex modern times. The evening will also include collaborations between these three remarkable percussive dance powerhouse companies, finding new flavors and powers within this melange.

May 8-11 and 15-18
Thursday-Saturday at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm
Location: Park Square Theatre — Andy Boss Thrust Stage
Tickets: $20-$30 plus fees

World premieres include Flying Foot Forum’s “Dandelions or How to Love Your Life”—a romantic, poetic, musical, meditative, extravaganza in nature with live music by Joe Chvala, Karla Grotting, Molly Kay Stoltz, Brandyn Tapio, and Anthony van de Ligt. Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre will premiere “Amor de Dios”, about the stolen babies of Spain, with live flamenco music by Ben Abrahamson, Alfonso Cid, and Tessa Nichols-Meade. Zorongo Flamenco’s Company will also re-stage a favorite traditional flamenco piece, “Jaleos”, choreographed by La Conja. Katha Dance Theatre’s “Rhythms of the Soul: A Kathak Odyssey” is a captivating performance that celebrates the art of Kathak, a classical Indian dance form. Katha Dance Theatre brings its mesmerizing, precise, and pulsating footwork, working against its graceful and detailed carriage, articulate hands, and expressiveness to create peak storytelling in this vibrant and bold evening of thrilling percussive dance works.

We invite you to witness the Young Dance company explore Inner Connectivity, Outer Expressivity, a concept drawn from the work of Rudolf Laban and Irmgard Bartenieff, onstage May 9-11 at Luminary Arts Center.

This collection of dance works explores the vital link between our inner world—thoughts and feelings—and physical expression. By cultivating this inner harmony, we unlock greater ease and authenticity in communicating ourselves to the world.

The performance features work by guest choreographers Lainey Lee, Gretchen Pick, Judee Shuǐ Xiān, and Laurie Van Wieren. Dancers from Young Dance’s All Abilities Dancing 2, Breaking 2, Hip Hop 2, Modern 4, and Choreography classes will also present work on this program.

Performances:
Friday, May 9 at 7:00pm — audio described
Saturday, May 10 at 7:00pm — ASL interpreted
Sunday, May 11 at 5:00pm

The Young Dance company is a group of passionate dancers committed to exploring themselves and their world through dance. Dancers ages 7-18 work with professional artists to investigate and collaborate on choreography related to the year’s theme and present their work in a high-quality, innovative performance.

Welcome to HoneyWork’s Cedarbacke II! This work-in-progress showing is an extension of Cedarbacke I, which premiered April 2023. Now, two years later, with a new cast and setting, we’re presenting what’s in the works for the next chapter of this three part project.

Thursday, May 15 at 5:30pm and 7:00pm
Tickets: $15-$50

Join us at the Tek Box at Hennepin Center for the Arts for a night you won’t want to miss. Come and experience the magic of Cedarbacke II. See you there!

This activity is funded, in part, by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s general fund.

Sway through the streets of 1950s Paris with Peter Davison’s An American in Paris. This ballet is inspired by the musical starring Gene Kelly and set to memorable George Gershwin melodies, such as “I Got Rhythm.” Follow along as Jerry, our aspiring American painter, works to succeed in both art and love.

Choreographed by Peter Davison and performed by The Company and School of Ballet Co.Laboratory.

Friday, May 16 at 7:00pm
Saturday, May 17 at 2:00pm and 7:00pm
Sunday, May 18 at 2:00pm

Tickets:
Adults: $40
Seniors: $35
Children/Students:$30
Group (15+ tickets to the same performance): $35

ORACLE is an awe-inspiring outdoor theatrical experience transporting audiences to a realm where nature, myth, and art collide. Experience the myth and majesty of Ancient Greece as critically acclaimed Vox Medusa, in collaboration with Infiammati FireCircus, ignites the stage this May with ORACLE! This mesmerizing fusion of mythology, dance, music, theatre and fire performance is set against the enchanting backdrop of Caponi Art Park’s Theater in the Woods.

ORACLE is a stunning outdoor theatrical experience, blending haunting electronic music, riveting contemporary dance, electrifying breakdance, soul-stirring choral arrangements, vibrant light design, and heart-pounding fire performance. This outdoor spectacle revives the ancient traditions of the Oracle of Delphi through six spellbinding performances, created by a stunningly talented 28-member ensemble​, where every moment unfolds under a canopy of lush trees.

Rediscover the Oracle’s tale through a modern lens, as ORACLE reimagines the story of Delphi’s High Priestess on the fateful day Apollo lays siege to her temple. The Oracle’s voice, once a channel of wisdom and prophecy from Mother Earth (Gaea), is challenged by Apollo’s ambition. This epic tale, told from the Oracle’s perspective, follows her courageous fight to preserve her power, her legacy, and her role as a symbol of feminine strength.

Do you have a burning question for the Oracle? Your questions may be drawn by the Oracle and included in the show! Audience members may also create an offering of what they wish to let go of. These offerings will be burned by the Priestesses during the performance.

For 30 years Vox Medusa continues to find an endless well of inspiration from feminist mythology, in both muse of creativity and mission to bring awareness to domestic violence and assault. All survivors of Domestic Violence and or Assault  and those who have benefited from Minnesota women’s shelters, please contact Vox Medusa at voxmedusadance@gmail.com for a VIP experience at ORACLE.

ORACLE is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

A major new work from Minnesota-based choreographer Mathew Janczewski interrogates binaries and asks how creative repression changes us. After receiving a diagnosis of leukemia, Janczewski learned that his condition was caused by the mutation of a single chromosome. For him, the experience brought new resonance to artist Matthew Barney’s epic five-film The Cremaster Cycle (1994–2002), which considers the embryonic stages of sexual differentiation—another biologically determined process that shapes our lives. Only the perverse fantasy can still save us takes inspiration from Barney and features an original score by Minnesota-based composer Joshua Clausen.

May 16-17 at 7:30pm
McGuire Theater
Tickets start at $15, fees included.

Only the perverse fantasy can still save us is commissioned by the Walker Art Center.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Photo by Galen Higgins

MN Dance Task Force (MNDTF) is a group of community members who gather and focus on better supporting the dance community in Minnesota with an intentional focus on moving toward an equitable dance ecosystem.

To sign up and be included in future communications, please email mndancetaskforce@gmail.com.

Next MNDTF Meeting: Monday, May 19
4:45-5:00pm: Welcome new visitors
5:00-6:30pm: Hybrid Meeting

Hybrid Meeting
In Person: Center for Performing Arts
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 850 3135 3212
Passcode: 226744

Do you love to dance but can’t stand the club scene or can’t stay up late? We’ve got the event for you!

Free Early Bird Dance Party for 21+
Saturday, May 31, 7:00-10:00pm

Come, bring your friends, party like it’s 1999, and then go to bed at a reasonable hour.
We will have a DJ and fancy lights to get you in the mood.

Please register, as we have limited space. Thank you!

The SOTA Movement is Minnesota’s premier street dance festival—a dynamic celebration of dance, culture, and community rooted in the powerful traditions of Hip Hop. This multi-day event unites artists, creators, and supporters to honor the vibrant spirit of street dance.

Friday, June 13 at 6:00pm
Saturday, June 14 at 10:00am
Sunday, June 15 at 10:00am
Located at Park Square Theatre in St. Paul.

From the empowering Celebration of Women in Hip Hop to high-energy battles, award winning performances, and immersive workshops, the SOTA Movement offers a platform for expression, connection, and cultural exchange. Join us in celebrating the artistry and resilience of the street dance community.

Experience the movement. Be part of the culture.

For more information and to stay updated, visit sotamove.com.

Bloomington Center for the Arts Presents the 2025 Discover Dance series featuring performances in multiple dance styles for audiences of all ages to discover and experience the joy and power of dance!

The program includes the Continental Ballet Company performing excerpts from the classical ballet Sleeping Beauty, jazz dance works by Concerto Dance including Tradition, set to a jazz arrangement of selections from the Fiddler on the Roof score, and the jazz/funk audience favorite On Our Way, along with Threads Dance Project performing Objet de Désir Inaccessible: a poignant exploration of racism, feminism, identity and the concepts of beauty inspired by the renowned painting “Portrait of Madeleine” (formerly titled Portrait of a Negress).

Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14
7:00-8:30pm
Bloomington Center for the Arts – Schneider Theater
Run Time: Approximately 90 minutes with a 15 minute intermission

Tickets
Students/Adults: $15-$25 (+fees)
Ages 5 and under: Free

For move information, visit www.blm.mn/bca.