All Abilities Dance Residency Final Performance

Led by Young Dance instructors, students from Bridge View School, Focus Beyond, and Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists participated in a mixed ability, month-long dance residency, made possible through a partnership with VSA Minnesota and the Ordway. Participants explored a range of dance experiences throughout the residency and learned to dance as an act of translating- not to copy the movement demonstrated by the teacher, but to translate it to their own body. They had the opportunity to create dance that highlights their unique abilities and collaborate with others with differing abilities. Join them for an original performance piece to be showcased on Thursday, March 20 at 12PM following a talk-back with AXIS Dance Company members at the Ordway.

TU Dance warms up K-12 classrooms!

In the fall of 2010, TU Dance and the Ordway received funding from The Joyce Foundation to support the commission of a new dance work, With Love, choreographed by one of TU Dance Company's artistic directors, Uri Sands. Set to premiere at the Ordway on May 6, With Love will feature the music of Donny Hathaway and is inspired by paintings by African American artist Ernie Barnes.

In addition to this commission, The Joyce Foundation grant also provides support for TU Dance and the Ordway to embed the company's aesthetic and vision in the community through a series of open rehearsals, master classes, and school residencies.

During the week of March 7 -11, several members of TU Dance held classes at Southwest High School, Saint Paul Conservatory for the Performing Arts, FAIR School Crystal, and Battle Creek Middle School. The company members instructed students on the proper way to warm-up and introduced dance techniques that included modern and African-based movement, all from the company's dance vocabulary. The residencies were a great sampling as to what TU Dance plans to offer dance students with this summer's opening of the TU Dance Center.







Debra McGee of TU Dance leads a warm-up with students from Kristy Pierce's class at Battle Creek Middle School.

Students at Battle Creek Middle School practice their new moves!