Video Gallery

Small Cast Version of the Hutsul Suite!

This is video of a small cast (3 couples) version of our new Hutsul suite that was performed on June 7, 2009 as part of the Minneapolis Mosaic festival. Represented in this video is the men's dance Arkan (usually danced in a closed circle; we adjusted it for a performance involving only three men) and the couple's dance Hutsulka.

The full-cast (8 couple) version debuted on March, 2009 at the Fitzgerald Theatre in St Paul, Minnesota as the finale to our 35th Anniversary Spring Concert Series The Kaiser's Jubilee.

The Hutsul suite is an exciting new choreography for EDT; it is the fruit of Artistic Director Donald LaCourse and Dancer Stefan Iwaskewycz's research trip to Ukraine last summer.

Artistic Director Donald LaCourse recently commented,

"It was especially moving for me to see our new Hutsul suite make it to the stage. I feel that we were able to present the most authentic village interpretation of this culture ever seen in our area. The audience response was tremendous, and I know that everyone in the company felt a sense of accomplishment and pride as well!"

Click to read more about Don and Stefan's trip to Ukraine last summer.

Click here to visit their Hutsul Dance Project website; in particular, visit the Hustul Dance Project Video page for clips from our footage of dancing at weddings in Ukraine, including the dances Arkan and Hutsulka.

Hungarian Choreographies:

Dunantuli (Hungarian)

This suite of Dunantuli dances choreographed by Eva Maria Kish premiered as part of EDT's Reflections on the Danube in the Fall of 2000. Represented are songs, music and dances specifically from the Sarkoz ethnographic region of Transdanubia.

This video is from the Ethnic Dance Theatre's performance of the Dunantuli Suite at a Tanchaz (dance house or party) held Saturday, March 7, 2009 by the MN Hungarians.

EDT is bringing back this suite for its Spring 2009 show The Kaiser's Jubilee, its 35th Anniversary Concert! Read more about The Kaiser's Jubilee.

Over the years Eva has choreographed a number of suites for EDT and is a former dancer with the company; she currently is an Ethnic Dance Theatre Resident Choreographer and the Chair of Ethnic Dance Theatre's Board of Directors.

Moldvai Csango (Hungarian)

This suite of Moldvai Csango dances choreographed by Eva Maria Kish premiered as the opening number of EDT's April 13, 1996 concert. Represented are songs, music and dances of the Hungarian people of Moldavia.

Coming Soon. . . Factoids for THEN and NOW, EDT's Spring Show 2011

Photo advertising "Then and Now," the 2011 Spring Concert Series of the Ethnic Dance Theatre

Click to enlarge

May 13-15

Ethnic Dance Theatre presents THEN and NOW, its 37th Annual Spring Concert Series featuring the music and dance of Bosnia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iran, Norway, Sweden, and Turkey at the Ritz Theater in NE Minneapolis.

One of the most compelling elements of a people's identity is its folk culture. EDT is known for the authenticity it brings to interpreting ethnic music and dance for the stage, and is respected for its work in promoting ethnic music, dance, and costume as art. The first half of the show--THEN--demonstrates our signature performance style at its best.

Folk cultures are constantly evolving, and the manner of presenting folk music, dance and costume on the stage has been undergoing much change around the world in recent years. In some instances, change in the style of presentation has preserved the baby of tradition, while in others, we feel it has not. In the second half of the show--NOW--audiences will experience something of a departure from EDT's traditional style as we present our own contemporary interpretation of ethnic dance, music and costume!

Presentation of THEN and NOW is made possible in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through an appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature, the McKnight Foundation, the Target Foundation, and our individual donors.

**If you know something interesting--including your own personal story--about a culture represented in our current season, please tell us about it here!

Click here to read previous factoids

Ethnic Dance Theatre: Presenting and preserving world music and dance as art for over 35 years!