Dance - Hennepin Theatre Trust

DANCE

WELCOME!
Dear Friends of Northrop Dance,
Welcome to the 2011-12 Northrop Dance Season! This edition of Northrop Dance features the world’s
greatest ballet and modern dance companies from the United States, China, France, Canada, and the U.K.,
once again emulating the rich tradition of Northrop’s 82-year history of international presentations. Designed
to inspire and enthrall, our season features both classic and contemporary dance for everyone. It is filled
with stunning, important works from choreographers like Jerome Robbins, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, and
Alvin Ailey, set alongside new mavericks like Jorma Elo, Angelin Preljocaj, Jin Xing, Christopher Wheeldon,
and Robert Battle.
We hope that you will join us for our exciting 2011-12 season!
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS:
• The MN debut of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s epic masterwork, Song of the Earth, as performed by Scottish
Ballet, Scotland’s leading classical ballet company, set to an operatic score by Mahler.
• Two of the latest ballets by Finnish choreographer, Jorma Elo, both premiered summer 2011—one work
commissioned by Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland and the other by the esteemed Houston
Ballet as the first recipient of The Rudolf Nureyev Prize for New Dance.
• The U.S. premiere of Shawn Hounsell’s Wonderland by Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. This avant-garde
and technologically-rich interpretation of the storybook classic, Alice in Wonderland, will also be the
anchor to many exciting downtown events called “Wonderland Weekend.”
• France-based Ballet Preljocaj brings its imaginative and inspired production of Snow White (Blanche
Neige) featuring a who’s who of French stage design, including costumes by famed French fashion designer
Jean Paul Gaultier, that highlights artistic director Angelin Preljocaj’s most popular contemporary ballet.
• China’s leading and most provocative choreographer, Jin Xing, and the Jin Xing Dance Theatre Shanghai
makes its Minnesota debut. Her personal and haunting Shanghai Tango represents a broad collection of
work drawn from her choreographic oeuvre in one evening, depicting and interpreting the contemporary
face of China.
• Classical ballet lovers will rejoice with the MN debut of the work of rising star Christopher Wheeldon and
his heralded Rush, Stanton Welch’s acclaimed Indigo, and a special one-night-only performance of
Jerome Robbins’ In the Night, with live music performed on solo piano.
• Revelations will be celebrated as part of our brilliant season finale by one of the most popular dance
companies of all time—Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater—on their inaugural tour with the company’s
new artistic director, Robert Battle.
Enjoy the season,
Ben Johnson
Director of Northrop Concerts and Lectures

In winter 2011, the beloved Northrop Auditorium closed for a significant revitalization that will transform
it into a leading performing arts and vital academic center of distinction in Minnesota. The new
Northrop will feature state-of-the-art acoustics, fabulous sightlines, and updated amenities including
more restrooms, full ADA access, easier wayfinding, and wonderful audience gathering spaces. With
83% of the seats within 100 feet of the stage, the new Northrop experience will be spectacular. This is
an exciting time for Northrop with construction underway and a grand opening on the horizon.
Programming international dance stars for our loyal audience will continue during the revitalization
of our building. During this time, Northrop has launched its NORTHROP MOVES campaign and will
move its world-class dance programming to downtown Minneapolis. The gorgeous Orpheum Theatre
in the highly visible Historic Theatre District on Hennepin Avenue provides a spectacular setting for
all of our presentations!
We hope you will join us on this exciting journey! For more information and to subscribe to receive
regular Northrop Revitalization updates, visit northrop.umn.edu/about/northrop-revitalization.

SCOTTISH BALLET
Ashley Page, Artistic Director
Song of the Earth (1965)
Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Choreographer
Music by Gustav Mahler
Kings 2 Ends (Premiered August 2011)
Jorma Elo, Choreographer
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Steve Reich
Northrop kicks off its 2011-12 Northrop Dance season with Scotland’s
national dance company, Scottish Ballet. With strong classical technique
at the root of all its work, the company presents a double bill featuring
MacMillan’s masterwork, Song of the Earth. Rarely performed in America,
it is one of MacMillan’s most intense and beautiful ballets, exploring man’s
struggle to accept mortality, with the Messenger of Death stalking the
action throughout, and the hope that renewal comes with death. The company
also presents Kings 2 Ends, a new work by celebrated Finnish choreographer,
Jorma Elo, that premiered August 2011 at the Edinburgh International
Festival. As resident choreographer at Boston Ballet, Elo has become an
increasingly sought-after talent across the U.S. and Europe, and has also
created works for companies including San Francisco Ballet, New York City
Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, and Finnish National Ballet.
Sat, Oct 22, 8:00 pm
Orpheum Theatre
$30, $45, $60
MINNESOTA DEBUT
“
Performances of breathtaking
poise and precision.”
−The Herald

CANADA’S ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET
WONDERLAND
André Lewis, Artistic Director
Wonderland (2011)
Shawn Hounsell, Choreographer
Music by John Estacio, Brian Current, and Josef Strauss
Sat, Nov 12, 8:00 pm & Sun, Nov 13, 3:00 pm
Orpheum Theatre
$30, $45 $60
Visit northrop.umn.edu for a schedule of Macy’s Wonderland
Weekend family events in downtown Minneapolis.
U.S. PREMIERE
Northrop presents the U.S. premiere of Wonderland, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg
Ballet’s dynamic re-interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s classic tale (Alice in
Wonderland) in a new, full-length story ballet choreographed by Canada’s
acclaimed RWB alumnus, Shawn Hounsell. The Queen of Hearts, White Rabbit,
Mad Hatter, and our other favorite characters and themes display generous
doses of wit, camp, and humor. Surreal and dark elements that lurk at the
original story’s fringes are bravely realized in explosive passages of breathtaking
dance and a multisensory fantasy, with edgy and athletic movement,
an electro-acoustic soundscape, and unexpected visual treats. Minnesota
audiences will once again be enchanted by the versatility, technical
excellence, and captivating style that are the trademarks of Canada’s
Royal Winnipeg Ballet.
Contemporary interpretation of story. Themes suitable for age 6 and older.
Wonderland was co-produced
with The Banff Centre
“…unusual and beautiful interpretation…one of
the most unique shows in [RWB’s] repertoire. ”
−The Star Phoenix

JIN XING
DANCE THEATRE SHANGHAI
Jin Xing, Artistic Director
China’s most celebrated dancer, Jin Xing (directly translated as “golden
star”), and her company Jin Xing Dance Theatre Shanghai, showcase a
retrospective of 10 of her best works over the last 25 years, featuring
lavish onstage environments and a feast for the senses. Though not actually
tango, Shanghai Tango showcases a contemporary Shanghai, a blend of
east and west in dance, costumes, and music that mixes passions and cultures
from both the past and the future. Jin Xing’s courage, fighting spirit, and
beautiful artistry have contributed to her great success as a ballerina and
owner of China’s only independent dance company. Her choreography is
graceful, subtle, and filled with visual appeal. Performed to rave reviews in
Europe, this event is part of a three-year exchange with arts leaders across
the country showcasing Chinese culture.
Sat, Feb 18, 8:00 pm
Orpheum Theatre
$25, $35, $50
MINNESOTA DEBUT
Shanghai Tango
Jin Xing, Choreographer
Music by Dead Can Dance, Rene Aubry, Wim Mertens, Astor Piazzolla,
Chen Gang, He Zhanhao, J. Charles, John Williams, and Johann Strauss
“They move with fluid grace, speed, and
dazzling synchronicity. ”
−Sydney Morning Herald

HOUSTON BALLET
Stanton Welch, Artistic Director
ONE/end/ONE (2011)
Jorma Elo, Choreographer
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
In the Night (1970)
Jerome Robbins, Choreographer
Music by Frédéric Chopin, performed live on solo piano
Indigo (1999)
Stanton Welch, Choreographer
Music by Antonio Vivaldi
Rush (2003)
Christopher Wheeldon, Choreographer
Music by Bohuslav Matinu
Known for its visually stunning, virtuosic performances and one of the heirs
to both the Balanchine and Ballet Russe legacies, the anticipated return of
the beloved Houston Ballet is razor-sharp dance at its finest. Two gorgeous
evenings of repertoire by the fourth largest ballet company in the U.S. will
feature the best of both classic and contemporary ballet. Four pieces of
choreography (three pieces per evening) comprise two different evenings
with a piece anchored by a dazzling pas de deux (Rush), the first recipient of
The Rudolf Nureyev Prize for New Dance (ONE/end/ONE), an examination
of the vagaries of romantic relationships at warp speed (Indigo), and a beautiful
and poignant one-act ballet portraying the relationships of three couples,
evoking moods ranging from romantic serenity to agitation and aggression
(In the Night).
Fri, Mar 23, 8:00 pm
Indigo
ONE/end/ONE
Rush
$30, $45, $60
A MINNESOTA FAVORITE
Sat, Mar 24, 8:00 pm
In the Night
ONE/end/ONE
Rush
“…one of America’s most
vibrant ballet companies. ”
−The Times, London

“
BALLET PRELJOCAJ
SNOW WHITE
Angelin Preljocaj, Artistic Director
Snow White (Blanche Neige) (2008)
Angelin Preljocaj, Choreographer
Music by Gustav Mahler
France’s leading contemporary ballet company, Ballet Preljocaj, (pronounced
prezh-oh-kahzh) performs a romantic and contemporary retelling of Snow
White (Blanche Neige), based on the Grimm brothers’ original fairytale, with
Preljocaj’s personal variations based on an analysis of symbolism. This lush,
full-length story ballet by French choreographer, Angelin Preljocaj, features
massive sets, 26 dancers, and an all-star roster of French artists and designers
including the magnificent excesses of Gustav Mahler symphonies, magical
sets by Thierry Leproust, and costumes by legendary Jean Paul Gaultier.
The characters’ bodies are transcended by Preljocaj’s signature choreography
to demonstrate space, energy, and ultimately feelings, using inventive
gestures, clever substitution, and even pirouetting, wall climbing dwarves
of acrobatic distinction.
Fri, Apr 13, 8:00 pm & Sat, Apr 14, 8:00 pm
Orpheum Theatre
$25, $35, $50
MINNESOTA DEBUT
Preljocaj proves that contemporary ballet
and fairytales can come together.”
−Ballet-Dance Magazine

ALVIN AILEY
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s brilliant artistry and passionate spirit
close the 2011-12 season with new works and returning favorites such as
Revelations. This timeless American masterpiece, called a “must see” for all
people, continues to inspire, enlighten, and entertain audiences after more
than 50 years. Alvin Ailey wrote for the premiere of Revelations, “This suite
explores motivations and emotions of African American religious music which,
like its heir to the Blues, takes many forms—‘true spirituals’ with their sustained
melodies, ring shouts, song-sermons, gospel songs, and holy blues—songs
of trouble, love, and deliverance.” Ailey’s return to Minnesota marks the first
tour with new artistic director, Robert Battle (succeeding Judith Jamison),
honored as one of the “Masters of African American Choreography” by
the Kennedy Center.
Tue, May 1, 7:30 pm & Wed, May 2, 7:30 pm
Orpheum Theatre
$30, $45, $60
A CELEBRATION OF REVELATIONS
AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
Robert Battle, Artistic Director
Revelations (1960)
Alvin Ailey, Choreographer
Spiritual/Traditional Music
Additional program repertoire to be announced
“…spectacular dancing that thrills you
to your marrow. ”
−The Times, London

FRIENDS OF NORTHROP
BUILDING THE FUTURE
Northrop is embarking on a dramatic re-imagining that will transform this 82 year-old Twin Cities
icon into a dynamic, creative cultural destination for the 21st century, featuring:
• Ambitious world-class projects
• Deep community engagement
• Innovative University collaboration
• Meaningful connections between audiences and artists
You can join us on this remarkable journey by becoming an investor in Northrop’s future.
Ticket sales cover just 33% of the cost to realize luminous performances while building toward
a grand opening in 2013. As a self-sustaining entity at the University, we depend entirely on
contributed support to close the gap.
This is your opportunity to be a leader in the next chapter of Northrop’s rich legacy.
WAYS TO PARTICIPATE
INVESTORS COUNCIL
Be a collaborator in Northrop’s artistic development and help realize a successful grand opening
night by making a meaningful three-year commitment to Northrop. Connect with artists and sit in
on Northrop’s planning efforts.
DIRECTORS CIRCLE
Premier supporters are given up-close access and VIP service including invitations to exclusive
events, concierge ticketing services, private receptions with artists, personalized “behind-the-scenes”
experiences, invitations to director’s dinners, and exclusive travel opportunities.
FRIENDS CIRCLE
Friends enjoy inside communication and updates, advanced information on discounts and special
events, and invitations to open rehearsals, among other benefits.
MAKE YOUR GIFT AND BECOME A FRIEND TODAY!
Visit northrop.umn.edu/donate or call 612-625-2807
SHAPE NORTHROP’S FUTURE—BE PART
OF SOMETHING BIG

SUBSCRIPTIONS & SINGLE TICKETS
GUARANTEE YOUR SEAT TODAY!
SINGLE TICKETS SOLD BY TICKETMASTER. BUY YOUR TICKETS EARLY TO BE GUARANTEED A SEAT FOR AN INDIVIDUAL EVENT.
Online ticketmaster.com or hennepintheatretrust.org/events
Phone 1-800-745-3000
In Person Save money on fees when you buy in person!
State Theatre Box Office
805 Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Mon - Fri, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm or Sat, noon - 3:00 pm
Single ticket prices listed in this brochure do not include taxes or fees.
SERIES PACKAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS
If you love dance and you must go to multiple shows this season, get the best discounts and seats with a
Northrop Dance series package. Plus, continuous subscribers will receive priority seating in the newly revitalized
Northrop when it opens. Order on Northrop’s website at northrop.umn.edu or contact U of M Tickets and Events
(formerly Northrop Ticket Office) for personalized customer service.
PORTFOLIO $346 $258 $184
For ultimate dance lovers who want it all. The “must see” Twin Cities 2011-12 series.
CLASSIC $234 $175 $124
The gorgeous delicacies of ballet and classic dance in its purest form.
INNOVATORS $224 $166 $120
The latest offerings from the leading makers of inventive dance.
JOURNEYS $234 $175 $124
A first-timer’s introduction to classic ballet and modern dance.
Scottish Ballet X X X
Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Wonderland X X X
Jin Xing Dance Theatre Shanghai X X X
Houston Ballet X X X
Ballet Preljocaj: Snow White X X X
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater X X X
All performances will be at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis.
SUBSCRIBER TICKETING CONTACT INFORMATION
U of M Tickets and Events (formerly Northrop Ticket Office)
University Park Plaza
2829 University Ave SE, Suite 720
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone (612) 624-2345
Fax (612) 625-4008
Email umntix@umn.edu
Online northrop.umn.edu
U of M Tickets and Events provides subscribers with personalized customer service over the phone
or in person, Mon - Fri, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, or by email.
BRING A GROUP AND SAVE!
Groups of 10+ save 15% off original ticket prices or 25% for schools and educational groups to Northrop Dance season events.
Groups benefit by getting discounted tickets, preferred seating, and flexible reservations and payment options.
Group discounts aren’t just for corporate, student, and travel groups. Use the group discounts to save money. Organize a night
on the town with your friends, family, neighborhood group, alumni association, church group, or social club!
Have your group organized already? Contact Hennepin Theatre Trust/Broadway Across America at 612-373-5665 or
MinneapolisGroups@BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
ACCOMMODATING SPECIAL NEEDS
Northrop Concerts and Lectures and the Orpheum Theatre are dedicated to providing persons with disabilities the necessary
measures to allow for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Please contact us with any questions, requests, or concerns.

FUNDING CREDITS
These activities are funded, in part, by the Minnesota State Arts Board through the arts and cultural heritage
fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the Legacy Amendment vote of
the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.
The performance of Jin Xing Dance Theatre Shanghai is funded in part by the National Dance Project of
the New England Foundation for the Arts. NDP is supported by lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable
Foundation, with additional funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Community Connections
Fund of the MetLife Foundation, and the Boeing Company Charitable Trust.
The 2012 national tour of the Jin Xing Dance Theatre Shanghai is part of a major, multi-year cultural exchange
with Minneapolis-based Arts Midwest, the Chinese Ministry of Culture, and the U.S. Major University Presenter’s
consortium. Support for the tour has been provided by the Ministry of Culture, People’s Republic of China, the
University of Minnesota’s China Center and Confucius Institute, the Chinese American Association-Minnesota,
Hilton Garden Inn, and the University of Minnesota’s Institute for Advanced Study.
The engagement of Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of
Arts Midwest, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from the Minnesota
State Arts Board, General Mills Foundation, and Land O’Lakes Foundation. Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet
is also presented with support from Enbridge, Inc., Macy’s, Inc., Thomson Reuters, Hilton Garden Inn, and the
Consulate General of Canada in Minneapolis.
Ballet Preljocaj is presented with support from the Alliance Française of Minneapolis and St. Paul and from
the Consulate General of France in New York and Chicago.
Scottish Ballet is presented with support from the National Dance Education Organization.
Ticket Sponsor
PHOTO CREDITS
Front Cover: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Revelations. Photo © Paul Kolnik.
Inside Cover: Houston Ballet’s Karina Gonzalez in Indigo. Photo © Amitava Sarkar.
Northrop Moves: Ballet Preljocaj: Snow White. Photo © JC Carbonne.
Scottish Ballet/Friends of Northrop: Adam Blyde, Eve Mutso, and Tama Barry in MacMillan’s Song of the Earth.
Photos © Graham Wylie.
Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet: Tara Birtwhistle and The Company. Photo © Bruce Monk.
Jin Xing Dance Theatre Shanghai: Photo © Paula Kajzar.
Houston Ballet: Karina Gonzalez and Joseph Walsh in Rush. Photo © Amitava Sarkar.
Ballet Preljocaj: Snow White. Photo © JC Carbonne.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Revelations. Photo © Paul Kolnik.
Ordering: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Clifton Brown in Revelations. Photo © Nan Melville.
This Page: Ballet Preljocaj: Snow White. Photo © JC Carbonne.
Back Cover: Jin Xing Dance Theatre Shanghai. Photo © Angelo Palombini.
Artists and program subject to change.
The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Printed by Shapco Printing, Inc.

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