Minnesota Dance Theatre Celebrates its Golden 50th in the 2011-12 Season

Minnesota Dance Theatre (MDT) announces its 2011-12 performance season of four unique evenings of sheer dance power.

MDT's performance season opens with Rumblings, a contemporary ballet with a vocal edge; this work explores the emotional blues with sensuous, powerful dancing and sensational singing. Artistic Director Lise Houlton's stirring choreography and musical artistry of arranger/pianist Tom Linker collaborates seamlessly with dancers, singers and musicians to create an evening of raw, tender, driven performances.

Minnesota's enchanting holiday tradition, Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy moves into the Goodale Theater in the Cowles Center as part of this inaugural year with an expanded run of twelve performances. This Minnesota classic has drawn over 1.5 million audience members in its 47- year history making it "the longest running arts event in Minnesota."

MDT begins the new year with an evening of repertory featuring the regional premiere of master choreographer Jiri Kylian's La Cathedrale Engloutie and the restaging of founder, visionary Loyce Houlton's Ancient Air.

Minnesota Orchestra will host MDT in their 100th anniversary of Young People's Concerts performance season with a newly conceived Petrushka, at Orchestra Hall, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of this Stravinsky masterpiece.

Celebrating MDT's Golden 50th in April, Carmina Burana comes to the Goodale Theater at the Cowles Center bringing the dynamic mix of powerful musical score by Carl Orff, scintillating choreography of Loyce Houlton and the masterful collaboration of Lise Houlton and Dominique Serrand. There will be a special, exclusive performance of Carmina Burana for the Golden GALA attendees on April 28th.

MDT at the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts

Rumblings -Sept 30- Oct 2 and Oct 7-9 at the Cowles Center
Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy -December 23-31 at the Cowles Center
Repertory Evening -March 23-25 at the Cowles Center
Carmina Burana -April 26-29 at the Cowles Center

Tickets are on sale 24/7 online at www.thecowlescenter.org or by phone at 612.206.3600 (Monday-Friday 12pm to 5pm.)

Season Ticket Information

Gold Circle Subscription - $112 for adults, $81 for children and students
Gold Circle Subscription with Special 50th Anniversary Golden Gala and Performance of Carmina Burana - $297 for adults, $277 for children and students
Regular Subscription - $96 for adults, $81 for children and students

About Minnesota Dance Theatre and the Dance Institute

Minnesota Dance Theatre is a non-profit professional dance company and school that brings together classical ballet and contemporary techniques in an all-encompassing dance aesthetic. Founder Loyce Houlton, one of the first American women to gain national and international recognition as a choreographer, teacher and producer, founded the company in 1962.

MDT celebrates a deep personal connection to its past, it is presently flourishing with renewed creativity and energy springing from Lise Houlton's artistic leadership. Under her direction, the company and school aspire to maintain the highest international artistic standards, and attract audiences, dancers, choreographers and students from all cultural and economic backgrounds to the art of dance. MDT is one of Minnesota's cultural treasures. The 2011-12 performance season runs September 2011 through April 2012.

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