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more press releases

From rare costumes to performers from exotic lands, EDT has a lot to talk about. Treat your readers to some culture candy. Be sure to also check out the press photos page!

1. Ethnic Dance Announces 2007-08 season

2. Ethnic Dance Presents "Nutcracker!"

3. Ethnic Dance Theater Presents "Land of Legends"

4. Jonathan Frey, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Ethnic Dance Theatre, 1951 - 2006

Ethnic Dance Theatre Announces 2007-08 Season

Ethnic Dance Theatre (EDT) is pleased to announce its 34th season of presenting international music and dance to Twin Cities audiences. According to founder and artistic director, Donald LaCourse, the new season offers something for everyone.

For the holidays, EDT will reprise its folk adaptation of “Nutcracker!” for the fifth and final year on December 7-9, 2007 at E.M. Pearson Theater, Concordia University, St. Paul. This year’s “Nutcracker!” will be better than ever with an expanded children’s cast featuring students from Linwood A+ Elementary School, in St. Paul. “We are excited to be working with teachers and students from Linwood, and providing opportunities for young people to discover the joys of folk dance and performance,” said LaCourse.

Join EDT for “Zabava!” EDT’s European Dance Party on February 23, 2008, at the historic CSPS Hall in St. Paul. “This is the time of year when we invite the public to join our village and learn the dances that are so much fun for people of all ages,” said LaCourse. “We’ll teach you how—no partners necessary.” The event also features live music by the fabulous Orkestra Bez Ime, a European Cafe and Silent Auction round out the evening.

In the spring, The O’Shaughnessy presents EDT in “First Love,” April 18-20, 2008, at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium, College of St. Catherine, St. Paul. A full-length dance drama, “First Love” features the vibrant music, haunting song and breathtaking dance of exotic Bulgaria. The show tells the story of a young woman’s journey from innocence to the bittersweet reality of marriage, inspired by the multitude of Bulgarian folk songs that have "first love" as a recurring theme. “First Love” is directed by LaCourse with Bulgarian guest choreographer, Petur Iliev, Chicago, live music by the always excellent EDT Folk Orchestra and musical guests, Mila Vocal Ensemble.

For more information, please contact:
Carol Bauer, Ethnic Dance Theatre
763-545-1333

Nutcracker!

Minneapolis, MN - Ethnic Dance Theatre (EDT) is pleased to present its acclaimed production of Nutcracker! for a fifth and final year. In this “ballet free” rendering, EDT brings E.T.A. Hoffman's original classic tale to life in a fast-moving show that includes traditional dances and exotic costumes (no tights, no tutus!) from around the world. Tchaikovsky's famous score, adapted for small ensemble, is intermingled with lively folk music played live by the EDT Folk Orchestra.

Klara is delighted with Drosselmeyer's gifts of dancing dolls--a Ukrainian Cossack, an Appalachian clogger, an Austrian music-box, and a Hungarian nutcracker. In a winter's dream, Klara pursues her handsome nutcracker prince on a magical journey around the world where dancers prance in a joyful Chinese ribbon dance, Russian princesses promenade in a candlelit winter snowfall, and Cossack soldiers clash swords in an exciting fight scene! (more – with link to full press release)

Artistic director, Donald LaCourse, said this year’s “Nutcracker!” will be better than ever with new music and dances from Bulgaria and Scandinavia performed by students from Linwood A+ Elementary School in St. Paul. “We are excited to be working with students from Linwood and providing opportunities for young people to discover the joys of folk dance and performance,” said LaCourse. A new holiday show is in the works for 2008, LaCourse added.

Starring in title roles are: Cade Holmseth, Stuart Pimsler Dance Company, as the Nutcracker; Victoria Piorek, Dolina Folk Dancers, as Klara; Royal Anderson, St. Paul City Ballet, as Drosselmeyer; and Paulino Brener as the Rat King.

Nutcracker! will be performed at Concordia University's E. M Pearson Theater, 312 N. Hamline Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104.

Ethnic Dance Theatre Presents "Land of Legends":
A Journey Through the Carpathian Mountains," April 19-22, Ritz Theatre, NE Minneapolis

Join the Ethnic Dance Theatre (EDT) on a journey through the Carpathian Mountains, legendary home of vampires, werewolves and other old world tales of darkness that have haunted movie audiences for decades. Through spellbinding music and dance traditions, discover the fascinating cultures that gave birth to these famous stories and expand your knowledge of this unique region shaped by ethnic rather than geographic boundaries.

Travel to Transylvania where ethnic Hungarians dance the boot-slapping Csardas to wake up the new baby! Go to the mountains of Romania where shepherds leap over fire in a dance tradition originating in the middle ages. Hear songs of the Rusyn, a Slavic ethnographic group without a country who proudly claim their own culture and language.

EDT is excited to bring this unique cultural treasure to the Ritz Theatre in Northeast Minneapolis, new world home to many old world immigrant groups from the Carpathian region. The heritage of the Northeast neighborhood is still evident today in its many Eastern European churches, ethnic halls and businesses such as Kramarczuk's and Mayslack's.

Partnering with EDT on four new choreographies for this show are: Edziu Rajtar, artistic director of Dolina Polish Dance Ensemble; Eva Maria Kish, Hungarian born teacher and choreographer; and John Omorean, artistic director of Izvorasul Romanian Dancers. The EDT Folk Orchestra will provide live accompaniment and perform works on its own. According to Colleen Bertsch, music director, "The orchestra is incredibly excited to play the music that Liszt, Brahms, Dvorak, and Bartok found worthy of using as their creative muse. Once you hear traditional music from the Carpathians, you will understand why the great masters depended on this deep well of material: it's earthy, sexy, passionate, and real."

The Ethnic Dance Theatre's mission is to foster understanding and awareness of world cultures through the re-creation and presentation of traditional ethnic dance and music. In a society where racial tensions are prevalent, EDT believes it is vital to promote and project the inherent beauty, dignity, and integrity of all peoples.

Land of Legends: A Journey Through the Carpathian Mountains
April 19-22, Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8 PM; Sunday at 2 PM
Ticketworks (no fees!): 651-209-6689 or www.ticketworks.com
$25 adults $22 seniors/students $12 children under 12

This activity is made possible in part by funds provided by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council from an appropriation by the Minnesota Legislature and the generous support of Community Bank Plymouth, Deluxe Corporation, Gannett Foundation/KARE 11, The German American Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, Leonard Street & Deinard Foundation, Target Foundation, James R. Thorpe Foundation, Recycle Technologies and EDT's individual donors.

For more information, please contact:
Carol Bauer, Ethnic Dance Theatre
763-545-1333

Jonathan Frey, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Ethnic Dance Theatre, 1951 - 2006

Jonathan Frey, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Ethnic Dance Theatre, 1951 - 2006

Members and friends of the Ethnic Dance Theatre mourn the passing of co-founder and artistic director, Jonathan Frey, 55, who died of natural causes in October at his south Minneapolis home.

Frey is remembered as a leader in the Twin Cities' folk dance and performance community. He began dancing while a student at Hopkins High School and was active in the folk dance community in the late 1960's and early 1970's, along with other prominent local folk dancers, including Dennis Boxell, Phyllis Cohen, Dick Crum and Don LaCourse.

In 1972, Frey, along with LaCourse, was lured to Seattle to join Koleda, an ethnic dance performing company founded four years earlier by Boxell. With Koleda, both Frey and LaCourse honed their dance skills and learned how to run a performing company. In 1973, they returned to the Twin Cities and, in 1974, founded the Ethnic Dance Theatre.

Frey and LaCourse, who were partners in life as well as in business, were co-founders and artistic directors of Ethnic Dance Theatre. Together, they researched ethnic dance traditions, recreated traditional dance, music and costumes for stage performance, and danced their way throughout the state, the region and the world. While LaCourse had primary responsibility for choreography, Frey took the lead on costumes, researching and recreating traditional folk costumes both for authenticity and stage appeal. During his 20-year association with the Ethnic Dance Theatre, Frey built the company's stunning collection of traditional costumes from several dozen to several thousand costumes. Although Frey retired from the Ethnic Dance Theatre in 1996, his love for folk dance remained with him throughout the rest of his life.

Frey was preceded in death by his parents, June and Arthur Frey, who lived in Minnetonka, Minnesota. He is survived many loving friends locally, nationally and internationally. A celebration of Jonathan Frey's Life will be held Sunday, November 5, from 3-6 PM at the International Institute of Minnesota, 1694 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108. Memorials suggested to the Ethnic Dance Theatre, 4000 Winnetka Ave. No., New Hope, MN 55427.

For more information, please contact:
Carol Bauer, Ethnic Dance Theatre
763-545-1333

remembering jon frey: press images through the years

Members of the press are invited to download and use the images below. Please credit the photographer and Ethnic Dance Theatre. All downloadable images are 300 dpi greyscale tif files.

Jonathan Frey in traditional dress from Thrace, Bulgaria. Photo by Paul Hagen, 1970's. (3.9 MB)

Jonathan Frey, Carolyn Johnson (left) and Marion Seely Kreisman (right), Ethnic Dance Theatre dancers, in traditional dress from Thrace, Bulgaria. Photo by Paul Hagen, 1970's. (6.2 MB)

Jonathan Frey and Candy Magnuson, Ethnic Dance Theatre dancers, in traditional Posavina dress from Croatia. Photo by Marc Norberg, 1970's. (4.7 MB)

Donald LaCourse (left) in traditional Polish dress, and Jonathan Frey (right) in traditional Armenian dress, co-founders and artistic directors of the Ethnic Dance Theatre. Photo by Sara Jorde, 1985. (5.7 MB)

Jonathan Frey (far right) and male dancers from the Ethnic Dance Theatre in traditional dress from Greek Macedonia. Photo by Paul Hagen, 1976. (6.1 MB)

Jonathan Frey and Jan Morse, Ethnic Dance Theatre dancers, in traditional Bukovyna dress from Ukraine. Photo by Candace Magnuson, 1985. (6.1 MB)

Christopher Yaeger (left), Jonathan Frey (center) and Donald LaCourse (right), Ethnic Dance Theatre dancers, in traditional Polish dress. Photo by Marc Norberg, 1985. (7.2 MB)

Jonathan Frey (front left), Don LaCourse (front right), and women dancers from Ethnic Dance Theatre, in Russian traditional dress. Photo by Paul Hagen, 1976. (6.1 MB)

Ethnic Dance Theatre dancers in traditional Spanish dress. Left to right: Donald LaCourse, Christopher Yaeger, Jan Morse, Jonathan Frey, Ann Von Bibra and Meredith Holt. Photo by Marc Norberg, 1990. (5.3 MB)

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