Thursday, April 28, 2011

Announcing the 2011-2012 Ordway Education School Performances and Pre-Sale!

Get a jump start on planning for next year’s Ordway School Performances! 

The Spring Pre-Sale on May 20, 2011 will be your first chance to reserve tickets to the 2011-2012 Performing Arts Classroom Season. 

Pre-Sale orders may be placed by phone, mail or fax. Orders will be taken by phone starting May 20, 2011 at 8:00a.m.; all mailed and faxed orders arriving on or before May 20 will be processed at the end of the day in the order they are received. 

Payment is not due upon ordering, but all Pre-Sale orders must be paid in full by August 19, 2011 or ticket orders will be cancelled and released. 

The 2012 Flint Hills International Children’s Festival will be announced in August 2011.  Festival tickets will go on sale September 2, 2011. 

Please watch your mailbox in early May for the Pre-Sale brochure! 
If you don't already receive Ordway Education brochures request yours by visiting http://www.ordway.org/education/performances/


Luna Negra Dance Theater
October 24, 25 & 26, 2011 | Grades 2-8 | Dance
Luna Negra Dance Theater fills the stage with energy, power and passion, while creating opportunities for Latino choreographers to be a cultural voice for their communities. As they celebrate and explore Latino tradition and identity, the company and choreographers utilize contemporary dance to move beyond cultural expectations of Latino movement and dance forms.  Flabbergast, choreographed by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, uses humor to explore our stereotypes and preconceived ideas about new and foreign places. 


Ely Guerra
October 27, 2011 | Grades 4-12 | Music  
Experience contemporary Mexican music with recent Latin Grammy Award-winner and Mexican music icon, Ely Guerra.  Ely Guerra is one of the most intriguing songwriters in Mexican rock.  Singing in primarily Spanish with some English, her songs incorporate elements of rock, electronica, jazz and pop with her unique vocals.
 


 Vox Lumiere
The Phantom of the Opera                      

October 31 & November 1, 2011 | Grades 6-12 | Music
Return to the world’s most famous opera house, as Vox Lumiere dares to unmask the secrets of the phantom. Ambition, murder and the allure of a dangerous secret come to life in this stirring new production.  Vox Lumiere- The Phantom of the Opera is a unique blend of live performance, original rock music and the original silent film that comes together to create a spellbinding performance of modern theatrical magic!

Still Black, Still Proud
An African Tribute to James Brown                 

November 23, 2011 | Grades K-8 | Music
Celebrating James Brown’s lasting legacy, Still Black Still Proud explores the deep relationship between soul, funk and modern African music.  As much as the music of Africa influenced Brown’s style, he likewise inspired an entire generation of African artists.  Join Pee Wee Ellis and a host of musicians including Vusi Mahlasela and Maceo Parker as they uncover the points at which African and American music influence and inspire one another through an unforgettable concert!

Ronald K. Brown Evidence A Dance Company
January 12, 2012 | Grades 4-12 | Dance
Inspired by the music of Stevie Wonder, Evidence,  A Dance Company will present On Earth Together. Through the fusion of modern dance, traditional African dance and spoken word, Evidence strives to promote understanding of the human experience in the African Diaspora. In On Earth Together Evidence will also project images that highlight both historic and imagined connections that set the stage for an expanded sense of community.  
 


Playing for Change
February 13, 2012 | Grades 4-12 | Music
What began as a PBS documentary about musicians from different cultures uniting together for the common purpose of peace through music comes to us now as the Playing for Change Band. Playing for Change traveled around the world recording and filming musicians of different faiths, backgrounds and ethnicities, and then blended their contributions into one unified and moving performance. A collection of the musicians from the documentary have now come together to form the Playing for Change Band. Their delivery of blues, gospel, reggae and Afro-pop continues to further their mission to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. 

VocalEssence WITNESS
February 21 & 22, 2012 | Grades 4-12 | Music
Join VocalEssence in celebrating the return of Hannibal Lokumbe (Dear Mrs. Parks) with the premiere of his piece, In the Spirit of Being.  Performed by VocalEssence, children’s choir, Jazz Quintet and Hannibal Lokumbe on trumpet, this work shows how we are interconnected through our past, present and future regardless of cultural background.  Through this journey, students will be challenged to embrace a greater appreciation for the gift of life, gain confidence to overcome whatever struggles they may face, and be inspired in the peace attained through forgiveness. 

Ballet of the Dolls
May 2 & 3, 2012 | Grades 6-12 | Dance
Live music, singers and dancers will join together as Ballet of the Dolls continues to push boundaries by creating challenging original works. Ballet of the Dolls was created in 1986 by esteemed choreographer Myron Johnson, providing the Twin Cities with its first year-round dance-theater program.   Creating original works by combining dance and theatrical staging elements, the company’s mission is “to fearlessly create challenging and surprising dance work that brings a sense of discovery to audiences and artists alike.”

Friday, April 15, 2011

Ordway Extra: TU Dance at Saint Paul Central Library This Sunday

TU Dance Artistic Directors Toni Pierce-Sands and Uri Sands discuss the creation of a newly commissioned work for the company's upcoming Ordway debut. Event attendees will get to see prints from African American artist Ernie Barnes, who was the inspiration behind the work. Patricia Mitchell,Ordway President and CEO, will be facilitating the discussion.

TU Dance Extra - April 17, 2011 at 2:00PM
Saint Paul Central Library
The event is free and open to the public.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Today is National Arts Advocacy Day !

Learn How You Can Participate Locally!

Hundreds of dedicated arts supporters from across the country have come together in Washington, DC for National Arts Advocacy Day, a united effort to tell Capitol Hill how important culture is to our communities, how much arts education means to our children, and how much the arts improve our daily lives. 84 National Co-Sponsors have helped us shape this united arts message to Congress. The 24th annual Arts Advocacy Day is organized by Americans for the Arts and is presented this year in partnership with Ovation, the only television network devoted to arts and culture.

Even though you may not be able to travel to Washington D.C. today to participate, Americans for the arts has sent up an E-Advocacy Center, where you’ll be able to send a message in less than two minutes directly to your Representative and Senators telling them why the arts are important to you  and your community.

 
 
We urge you to send your message to Congress today to coincide with our office visits to the Hill.