Ordway to Welcome The Pedrito Martinez Group & Lula Washington Dance Theatre

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts will kick off its 2015-2016 World Music & Dance Series in Oct. with two special one-night-only performances. The Pedrito Martinez Group will open the season on Oct. 18, followed by Lula Washington Dance Theatre on Oct. 30. Tickets start at $23 and can be purchased online at www.ordway.org, by phone at 651-224-4222 or in person at the Ordway ticket office.

Cuban born Pedrito Martinez has been a mainstay in the New York City music scene for almost two decades. Inventive and bold, Martinez seamlessly blends traditional Afro-Cuban music and instruments with complex rhythms, jazz and elements of popular music. Martinez's talent has garnered him much critical praise, including a Grammy nomination, the Thelonious Monk Award, the Sphinx Award, and Jazz Journalist's Percussionist of the Year (2014 and 21015). The event will also include a dance floor for audience members to use during the performance.

L.A.-based contemporary dance ensemble Lula Washington Dance Theatre (LWDT) is known for its powerful performances rich in political and social commentary. Led by award-winning choreographer Lula Washington (who choreographed the movie "Avatar"), LWDT fuses aspects of African-American dance, incorporating styles of gospel church, classical ballet, modern, street, theatrical, and hip-hop dance. The company has been revered across the country and around the world for 35 years. This will be the company's third time performing on the Ordway stage.

"Both of these artists are known for creating innovative and contemporary work rooted in traditional art forms, which exemplifies the mission of the World Music & Dance Series," said Dayna Martinez, artistic director of World Music & Dance. "Pedrito Martinez is a master at taking traditional Cuban music and reinventing it to create a complex, soulful sound unlike anything you've heard before. And Lula Washington's ability to seamlessly fuse so many stylistic influences to create captivating and emotionally-driven pieces is unmatched. I couldn't be more thrilled to have them here to kick-off the 2015-2016 season."

The Ordway's World Music & Dance Series is presented by Target. For tickets and more information, visit www.ordway.org.

ABOUT THE ORDWAY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

The Ordway is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading nonprofit performing arts centers and Saint Paul's most elegant and inviting performance space. The Ordway's Music Theater and Concert Hall attract diverse audiences with an array of productions showcasing the finest in American musical theater, world music, dance and vocal performance. Education and community engagement are integral to the Ordway's mission, with major initiatives including the annual Flint Hills International Children's Festival and Ordway Education programs that serve more than 50,000 students annually. The Ordway also sponsors the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, a charter high school with a professionally guided academic and artistic environment that trains aspiring pre-professional performing artists. Together with the Minnesota Opera, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and The Schubert Club, the Ordway is a member of the Arts Partnership and serves as the principal venue for their performances. For more information, visit www.ordway.org.

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