Midway-based TU Dance to perform at O’Shaughnessy

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TUDance_largerMidway-based TU Dance, the acclaimed Minnesota-based dance company led by Toni Pierce-Sands and Uri Sands, returns to The O’Shaughnessy on Fri.-Sat., Nov. 20-21 at 8pm, and Sun., Nov. 22 at 2pm, as part of its 12th annual performance season. The dance concert features a world premiere work by celebrated Italian-Canadian artist and 2015 McKnight International Choreographer Gioconda Barbuto, a debut of a compelling new piece choreographed by Sands, and a reprise of the company’s highly-regarded “January.”

Pierce-Sands and Barbuto are well acquainted, having previously danced together with Minnesota Dance Theatre. “Gioconda’s choreographic philosophy and talents around dance making is both mesmerizing and inspiring, it’s a true gift to have her creating work here in our community, for our community.” Said Pierce-Sands.

Barbuto explains, “My work is created in collaboration with the [TU Dance company members]. I like to create an environment in which the dancers are motivated in exploring collectively, the endless possibilities of movement invention.

“This often develops and feeds into a complex orchestration of interactions of meeting, letting go and ‘leaving a little bit of you behind’,” she continued. “It’s a little bit like traffic, of distinct personalities, coming together, intersecting, meeting and letting ‘someone go by’ but ultimately, in passing we meet.”

The work is driven by the inspiring and provocative music of Gabriel Prokofiev, an innovative London-based composer, who is the grandson of Sergei Prokofiev, the famed Russian composer.

“It’s a huge honor for me to be selected as this year’s McKnight International Choreographer and to be working with Toni and Uri. To be a part of their vision and to work with these amazingly talented artists in the studio is fulfilling and boundless, each day I look forward to seeing where the next creative journey might take us,” says Barbuto.

TU Dance will also premiere a new work choreographed by Sands, which will be set to music by Charles Mingus. In addition, the full company will perform Sands’ “January,” which examines perpetual states of transition, exploring life at the crossroads of earth and sky, with eyes on both yesterday and tomorrow.

Tickets are $18, $25 and $31 with discounts for students, seniors, military, MPR, TPT and groups of 10 and more. For more information and tickets, contact The

O’Shaughnessy Ticket Office at 651-690-6700; business hours are Mon.-Sat. 12-6pm; ticket office is located on the main campus of St. Catherine University at 2004 Randolph Ave., Saint Paul. Tickets can also be purchased online 24/7 at oshag.stkate.edu/event/tu-dance.

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