Apres le deluge: Sunshine on Minnesota Ballet's new season

Duluth, Minnesota


In spite of $100,000 in damage visited upon its sets and backdrops by torrential flash flooding, June 19-20, the intrepid Minnesota Ballet has begun preparing its 2012-2013 performance season.

Minnesota Ballet's "Dracula" • DECC, Duluth • Oct. 19-20

Donning costumes from last year's well-received, premiere production of "Dracula," six of the company's dozen dancers traveled by float along Tower Street in Superior, Wisconsin, Sept. 2, as part of the Duluth-Superior Pride parade. Their sun-drenched outing promoted the return of "Dracula" for their season opener at the DECC Entertainment and Convention Center, Oct. 19-20.


In the week leading to Labor Day weekend, the dancers worked with the choreographer Penelope Freeh, who traveled from Minneapolis to set a new dance on them. The Ballet will unveil that work, along with new creations by the dancers, at evenings of "Dances and Desserts" at the Board of Trade Building, Sept. 20-21.


Freeh, who has had a long association with the James Sewell Ballet, will present performances of her work at the Southern Theater in Minneapolis, Sept. 28-30, with the composer Jocelyn Hagen.


The Minnesota Ballet, led by Artistic Director Robert Gardner since 2007, will offer free sample classes for its school, 10am-1:30pm, Saturday, Sept. 8. Children, teens, and adults are welcome to check out classes in creative movement, ballet, jazz, tap, and modern at 506 West Michigan Street, Duluth.

Dancers in photo l-r: Marco Clemente, Emily Neale, Alana Gergerich, Megan Wolfson,Reinhard von Rabenau, Michael Agudelo