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welcome to ethnic dance theatre: your passport to the world

history and foundation

Ethnic Dance Theatre (EDT) was founded in 1974 by Donald LaCourse and Jonathan Frey as a small ensemble of dancers and singers presenting Balkan traditions. In the last 30 years, EDT has grown into the Twin Cities performing arts scene as a large company of dancers, singers and live musicians. We have represented cultures from five of the seven continents and have performed for audiences in nearly a dozen countries.

an edt timeline

1974-EDT is founded by Donald LaCourse and Jonathan Frey.

early 1980s- Native guest dancers, choreographers, and musicians begin working with EDT to expand the company's cultural repertoire.

1984-EDT Folk Orchestra becomes regular part of all performances. The same year, EDT begins presenting school workshops, residencies, and informances.

1986-EDT begins regular touring in the Upper Midwest and in international festivals, including those in Hungary, Bulgaria, France and Czech Republic.

1987-EDT honored with McKnight Excellence in the Arts Award.

1990s-EDT Folk Orchestra voted Best Ethnic Ensemble by the Minnesota Music Academy.

1990-EDT receives its first program grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

1992-First EDT recording made, featuring several live favorites.

1995-Smaller ensemble programs created. In the same year, Mila Vocal Ensemble recorded its first CD, which lead to a nomination by the Minnesota Music Academy for Best Ethnic Ensemble.

2001-EDT Folk Orchestra records its first CD.

2003-EDT introduces "Nutcracker!" an original folk adaptation of ETA Hoffman's classic tale; "Nutcracker!"; show repeats each December through 2007.

2004-EDT celebrates its landmark 30th anniversary year with retrospective performances featuring works from as early as its first season and highlighting many alumni performers.

edt today

Ethnic Dance Theatre (EDT) is the only professional international dance company in the Upper Midwest, (and one of only a few in the entire USA), dedicated to the artistic performance and preservation of world music, song and dance. Over the past 30 years, EDT has brought over 50 different cultures and traditions to life in colorful and spellbinding performances. With a company of 25 dancers performing to live music by the EDT Folk Orchestra, EDT's extensive repertoire of folk dances and music includes such diverse countries as Austria, Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Costa Rica, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Tibet, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Each year, the company presents over 300 programs, including performances, smaller ensemble programs, school workshops, residencies and informances. In celebration of the enduring nature of folk dance as a participatory activity, the company also hosts annual community dance parties where audience members explore their own cultural traditions as well as those of others through dancing and cuisine.

Be sure to visit the press room to see what EDT has been up to!

artistic director, donald lacourse

The driving force behind EDT, Donald LaCourse serves as artistic director, lead dancer, choreographer, cultural researcher, and costume designer.

Mr. LaCourse began folk dancing at the age of four. At age seven, he decided to make it his career  when he first saw Duquesne University´s Tamburitzans Dancers. Mr. LaCourse became a member of Edelweiss St. Paul, a German folk dance troupe, at age 10. He danced in this troupe and in musical theatre productions until 1973, when he moved to Seattle to join The Koleda Folk Ensemble (where choreographer Mark Morris was also a dancer). In 1974, Mr. LaCourse returned to Minneapolis and co-founded EDT.

Mr. LaCourse has completed a dozen international research trips in order to learn dance techniques, research costumes, and to better understand the cultural context of his work. The Autonomous Republic of Northern Ossetia (Russia), Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Spain, and Costa Rica are just a few of the countries which he has visited. Nationally recognized for his choreography, Mr. LaCourse was commissioned to create work for the Chimera Theatre, the Radost Folk Ensemble of Seattle, and Avaz International Dance Theatre in Los Angeles. He has also appeared as a guest artist with the Minnesota Opera, the North Star Opera Company, Katha Dance Theatre and Dolina Polish Folk Dancers.

EDT's outstanding national reputation as one of the most diverse and distinctive repertoires to be performed in the world of ethnic dance is a direct result of Mr. LaCourse's dedication, acumen, and artistry. To contact Mr. LaCourse, e-mail: dlacourse@ethnicdancetheatre.com.

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