TU Dance Open Rehearsal

LAST CHANCE to join TU Dance Artistic Directors Toni Pierce-Sands and Uri Sands, and company members for an open rehearsal Thursday, April 24 from 5:30 - 7PM at Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Register at 651-282-3115!

TU Dance Master Class

TU Dance Master Class
Horton based Modern Class with Toni Pierce-Sands

Participants will be guided through a Horton based warm-up that will prepare them to learn movement phrases from the company repertoire commissioned by the Ordway to premiere on May 10.

Tuesday, May 6, 6:00-7:30pm ages 14+
$10 or $5 with a ticket to the TU Dance performance, May 10

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Drake Room
345 Washington Street, Saint Paul

• Space is limited to 40 dancers.
• Class is open to dancers with Intermediate to Advanced/Professional levels of dance experience.
• Participants should be prepared to dance bare footed.

Register at: 651.224.4222

The Ordway invites you to an Afro-Brazilian Dance Class with TU Dance!

TU Dance company members, Marciano Silva dos Santos and Debra McGee, will teach an Afro-Brazilian dance class that explores the movements of orixás (Orishas) introduced outside of the sacred space of Candomblé . Elements such as jumps, turns, floor work, and rhythmic sections will be used to work on flexibility and strength. A harmonious relationship between body and sound will allow participants to note the constantly evolving dynamics in relationship to principles such as coordination, relaxation, breathing, and undulation. Afro-Brazilian dance is polycentric movement that builds concentration and has a spiritual focus.

Previous dance experience recommended

Tuesday, May 3, 6:30-8pm
Ordway, Drake Room
345 Washington Street, downtown Saint Paul
Please Enter through the Stage Door on 5th Street
$10 or FREE for ticketholders
RSVP to Amy Miller: 651.282.3017 or amiller@ordway.org

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.

You're Invited to TU Dance Open Rehearsals

TU Dance and the Ordway invite you to the following Open Rehearsals to observe the company as they prepare for a performance on May 6th at the Ordway, which includes the World Premiere of With Love.

Featuring the music of Donny Hathaway, choreographer Uri Sands uses the inspiration of paintings by African American artist Ernie Barnes to set the tone of With Love.

Admission is FREE, but space is limited. Please RSVP to Amy Miller at amiller@ordway.org or 651.282.3017 to reserve your space.

1st Open Rehearsal

March 30, 5:30 - 6:30pm

TU Dance Center: 2121 University Ave West, St. Paul

2nd Open Rehearsal

April 13, 5:30 - 6:30pm

TU Dance Center: 2121 University Ave West, St. Paul

3rd Open Rehearsal

April 27, 5:30 - 6:30pm

Ordway Drake Room: 345 Washington Street, St. Paul

Limited off-street parking at TU Dance Center is available; street parking surrounding the building is also available.

Supported by the Joyce Foundation with a Joyce Award.

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!