NEWS UPDATE

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National Park Service, St Paul Star Grant,
Bigelow Foundation,  FAO Schwarz

posted May 5, 2003
River Songs
Ballet Minnesota will once again partner with the National Park service during July and August to bring the music of Charlie Maguire and the choreography of Andrew Rist to the people of Minnesoa

posted April 14, 2003
Bigelow Foundation
The Bigelow Foundation has just awarded Ballet Minnesota a $20,000.00 operational grant.

posted April 11, 2003
Minnesota Dance Festival
The 15th Annual MDF was very successful hosting 6 different performances at the Fitzgerald Theater in St Paul, Minnesota. 10 companies featuring 14 different choreogaphers and 4 independent choregoraphers were featured. This was made possible by a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.

Companies and Choreographers presented included  Ballet Minnesota, James Sewell Ballet, Minnesota Dance Theatre, Ragamala Music and Dance Theater, Zenon Dance Company, Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre, Aparna Ramaswamy, Catalyst: dances by emily johnson, The Dancer's Studio, Deborah Jinza Thayer, Penelope Freeh, Hijack, Matt Jenson's New and Slightly Used Dance, Uri Sands

On Wednesday evening at 7:00pm 12 schools from around Minnesota presented dance works representing their studios which featured 250 dance students. The diversity of dance works presented included jazz, modern, ballet, tap and ballroom.

Friday Morning MDF presented a selection of works to students from schools around Minnesota.

Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and evening featured a cross selection of works by the festival guests

Sunday evening was the first year of the Gala performance.

A DanceArts Forum was held on Saturday afternoon. The classical ballet presented this year was "Coppelia"

posted December 31, 2002
Capitol Holiday
Bremer Capitol Holiday at RiverCentre in St Paul on December 28, 2002 was a success for Ballet MInnesota.

Dance Works presented were:
        -  "Light the River", "Roll River Journey" and "Pass the Bowl" accompanied by Singer / Songwriter Charlie Maguire
        -  Harlequin and Columbine from the Nutcracker.
        -  Friends Dance from Coppelia

Dancers: Melanie Hughes, Taylor Dreyling, Erin Warn, Julia Heggerness, Caitlin Mussmann, Geoff Leung, Emily Baierl and Sarah Bulger
                       
Minnesota Dance Festival
Paula Mann has just accepted the position of Festival coordinator for the
Minnesota Dance Festival to be held April 2-6, 2003 at the Fitzgerald Theater.
 The festival is now accepting videos from companies, choreographers or dancers that are interested in performing in the 15th MDF. You can send your videos to : Ballet Minnesota, 249 East Fourth Street, St Paul, MN 55101 or you can call 651-222-7919 and leave message for Paula Mann                

Nutcracker Sponsors
We wish to thank St Paul / Minneapolis Magazine and FAO Schwarz for their
Sponsor Support of the Nutcracker

posted October 24, 2002
TASTE THE ARTS
Event Sponsors:
   Halleland, Lewis, Nilan, Sipkins &       Johnson, P.A.
   M & I Bank
   Minnesota Public Radio
   Children's Hospitals and Clinics
   Barsuhn & Jerry's Printing
The evening was also made possible by: Bob Brooks, RBC Dain Rauscher, Buon Biorno Italia, ConAgra, John Conlin, Tom Crann, Dixie's, Drake Bank, Fhima's, The Fitzgerald Theater, Minnesota Bussiness Academy, The Pennington Group, Solo Vino, Southview Liquor, Stems and Vines (West St Paul), Tony Vavricka Photograph

The Taste The Arts Performance at the Fitzgerald was a complete success. Five Arts Groups (Dale Warland Singers, American Compoers Forum, Zietgiest, Actor's Theater of Minnesota and Ballet Minnesota) came together to present themselves to a select audiece of arts goers. Mayor Randy Kelly was the featured guest speaker. The event was concieved of by Ballet MInnesota executive director Cynthia Betz. Due to the huge success, talks are under way to do this again next year.