Community Exchange DanceMN

Wilder Research Dance Community Gathering Findings

Wilder Research is excited to share the final report from MN Dance Task Force engagement efforts for the Minnesota dance community. You will find several documents. In addition to the full report, there are several attachments that contain specific sections of the report for easier access and readability.

The full list of documents includes:

We welcome you to take a read, digest, and reflect on the findings and quotes that resonate with you. As we’ve stated throughout this engagement process, this report is not meant to be the end-all be-all, but a jumping-off point for deeper discussion, visioning, and problem-solving. Expect opportunities for further conversation and connection that will allow the community to move towards an action phase. We hope this report can serve as a resource and grounding tool going forward.

Additionally, Ananya Matewos will be continuing her involvement in this process as a member of the dance community, supporting the implementation of the recommendations we’ve made in the report!

Ananya and I are so grateful to everyone who took the time and energy to participate in this process in some way. We are honored to have heard so many of your incredible insights and perspectives.

Thank you! In community,
Jacqueline Zhang and Ananya Matewos

MN Filmmaker and Dancers Release Dance Film “Holding Space”

How does the body house vacancy? Endlessly unfolding through the ache and surrender of existence. The unmistakable arc of becoming.

Filmed in Minneapolis and St. Paul, 2022-2024.
Director: Austen Browne
Story and Choreography: Mykala Micek and Austen Browne
Dancers: Olivia Brockman, Sadie Woolman-Schlukebier, Maya Wandrei, Calla McDermott, Courtney Peters, Karissa Tricas, Hannah Larsen, Taylor Wren, Isa Ajpop, Caitlyn Enright, Hallie Johnson, Kenzie Bernloehr, Meredith Anderson, Catie Hardo, Kathy DeKarske

Hello DanceMN Community

Hello Minnesota Dancers and Dance Enthusiasts,

My name is Nicole Marquez. I’m a spinal and brain injury survivor, disabled dancer and choreographer, and I recently moved to Minnesota from Louisiana. Dance has been central to my life for nearly four decades. I spent years dancing as an able-bodied performer, and the last few years learning how to move, create, and listen differently within a disabled body.

After a life-altering fall in 2008 that forever changed my relationship to movement (read more), I slowly rebuilt my dance practice. Alongside longtime collaborator and dear friend Julie Turner, we’ve explored new movement pathways and created and performed work commissioned by Infinity Dance Theater, Heidi Latsky Dance, and Tulane University’s Theater and Dance Department, with multiple performances at Tulane and Catapult/Mondo Bizarro Theatre.

I care deeply about teaching, collaboration, performance, and disability advocacy in dance, and I’m truly excited to begin connecting with the Minnesota dance community.

Warmly,
Nicole Marquez

Community Movement Lab – Kicking Off 2026 by Moving Together

Community Movement Lab
Sunday, January 4 from 9:30am-12:00pm
Ballet Co.Laboratory — Studio 5

In the spirit of paying it forward, I invite everyone to come together and explore the joy of movement and dance as a community. Let’s start with a warm-up and see what the group would like to do next. If you have a movement-phrase you’d like to work on or share, feel free to bring it, but it’s not a requirement. Our main goal is to simply show up and exchange movement ideas. I bet we can enjoy a sense of camaraderie together.

This a free*, self-guided event with no specific structure or agenda, other than creating a space for like-minded individuals to move together. I can’t predict what to expect, as it will depend on who attends and what they want to do. That being said, I can manage facilitation, if necessary. Thanks!

Alys Ayumi Ogura
*Small donations are welcome for coving the space rental, but certainly not required.

chance2dance Outdoor Dance Gatherings

Yep, still happening… a welcoming crew gathers Friday evenings at Bde Maka Ska: E. Bde Mka Ska Blvd and 36th St. Too cold/windy? Our alternate location is Painter Park: 3300 block of Lyndale, near the skate park.

How? BYOM – Bring Your Own Music via playlists, devices, etc., and groove outdoors with lovely humans.

Fridays, 4:00-5:00pm
November 7-March 6

Plus, Saturdays in November at Painter Park: 3300 block of Lyndale, near the skate park.

Saturdays, 11:00-11:45am
November 15 and 22

Zenon Dance School: Fall Xchange Program

Zenon is looking for volunteers to participate in our Xchange Program for the Fall Session!

Xchange is Zenon’s work-study program, which allows students to volunteer in exchange for credit for dance classes. The Fall Session will run from September 8 to December 20, 2025.

Weekday in-person shift = one class credit
Weekend in-person shift = two class credits
All online shifts = one class credit

Credits are valid for six months.

If you are interested in the Xchange Program, please fill out the interest form on our website or email info@zenondance.org.

Doma Dance Theater’s CHYŽA: Week-Long Micro Residencies Program

Doma Dance Theater continues CHYŽA, a week-long micro-residency program.

“Chyža” (huzhzhah), meaning house, room, cottage, or cabin, is a word only found in the Carpatho Rusyn language. With this in mind, we invite artists needing concentrated, unrestricted, settled time in one place to make our studio your chyža. Possible intentions are (but are not limited to) cleaning work, long rehearsals, set development, prop work, pre-tech research, low-tech preproduction, small showings, micro intensives, solo research, etc.

Currently available residency weeks:

September 8-14
September 15-21
September 22-28

Residency weeks run Monday-Sunday.
Residents determine their own schedule but are encouraged to use a minimum of 10 hours in the studio.
Additionally, artists receive 1-2 hours of mentorship/eyes/ears/chat/Zoom during their stay from one artist from the Doma Team; mentor availability is pending.

This is an ongoing program with a rolling application form for residency weeks. First come, first served –apply now!