State of the Arts

State of the Arts: November 22, 2011 Archive

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The reviews are in for Zenon Dance at the Cowles Center

Posted at 8:51 AM on November 22, 2011 by Marianne Combs (1 Comments)
Filed under: Criticism, Dance

Zenon Dance Company's performance at the new Cowles Center drew three raves. While many dance concerts only run one weekend, this one continues November 25-27. Interested in seeing the show? Check out excerpts of the reviews below, or click on the links to read them in full.

ZenonStorm.jpg
Zenon Dance Company performs STORM at The Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts
Photo by Michal Daniel

From Caroline Palmer at the Star Tribune:

The members of Zenon Dance Company have proven their versatility time and again, but the 29-year-old troupe's season at the Cowles Center may be one of their most diverse and enjoyable yet. The program is filled with everything from fearless modern dance to cocktail-hour panache.


From Rob Hubbard at the Pioneer Press:

...this weekend's program of four dances by one of the theater's core tenants was well worth the wait.

On Saturday night, the dancers of Zenon presented an ideal showcase for their versatility, energy and sense of adventure. Launching the company's Cowles tenure with two new works, another nearly as fresh, and a jazzy staple from its past, the troupe showed why it's thrived through years of change on the local dance scene: It can be showy and circumspect, thought-provoking and pulse-quickening. As adept at intensity as it is at celebrating the pure joy of dance.


From Sheila Regan at City Pages:

The opening weekend included the premiere of two pieces by Daniel Charon and Mariusz Olszewski, as well as Morgan Thorson's fabulous "Deluxe Edition" from 2010 and Danny Buraczeski's fun "Swing Concerto" from 1993. While each of the choreographers showed off their unique style, they all espoused a sense of theatricality onto Zenon's athletic dancers.


Artistic Director Linda Andrews was dressed for the occasion in a sparkly red dress, calling for her gigantic martini. Indeed, the whole evening had a sense of celebration. Zenon has found its new home at the Cowles, and they intend to make their mark there.


Zenon Dance Company performs at the Cowles Center November 25 - 27. Have you seen the show? If so, what did you think? Share your review in the comments section.

(1 Comments)

A closer look at life at MCAD

Posted at 11:29 AM on November 22, 2011 by Marianne Combs
Filed under: Education, Funding

My colleague Alex Friedrich writes MPR's On Campus blog, and last week he decided to spend a day on the campus of MCAD, to find out just what it's like at an art and design school.

While he was there he got a preview of the student art sale, dropped in on a class for aspiring comic-book artists, and attended a critique session of a student's sculpture.

In addition he met with senior Anthony Warnick to get an in-depth view into student life, and sat down for a chat with MCAD President Jay Coogan.

coogan-post.jpg
MCAD President Jay Coogan
MPR Photo/Tim Post

Here's what Coogan had to say about MCAD's high tuition:

Like other specialized schools, art and design schools in general are top net-tuition schools. It's an expensive form of education (small classes, lots of supplies and equipment), and unlike science, it doesn't get subsidized by the government or other organizations. But we have a very low default rate. We're below the national average -- 6.1 percent vs. 7 percent. That means our students are going out and getting jobs. But we're looking for ways that students won't have to take out more loans - such as by offering more institutional scholarships and then raising money for more financial aid. We're readjusting the financial aid formula so that it's more in line with the discount rate -- so net tuition will be dropping for students. We're not sitting by. We're definitely paying attention to this and doing everything we can to address this.

You can read the rest of Coogan's remarks here.

Youth Performance Company receives $10,000 NEA grant for new production

Posted at 1:47 PM on November 22, 2011 by Marianne Combs
Filed under: Culture, Funding, Theater

For some people, the construction of the Central Corridor light rail line brings back some old memories, and they're not good ones.

And for Youth Performance Company, the event has inspired a new production that the National Endowment for the Arts decided is worth funding.

YPC is the recipient of a $10,000 grant to develop a new production called "Echoes of Rondo" which makes connections between the current transit project and the creation of Interstate 94, which obliterated the predominantly African American Rondo neighborhood in the 1960s.

The musical will be directed by Jacalyn Knight, composed and choreographed by Kahlil Queen, and performed by local area teen artists. The musical will focus particularly on how these transit projects affected - and continue to affect - young people.

The production is slated to be part of the 2013/2014 season.

You can see the full list of NEA grantees here.

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