Arts Partners

When complete, the Minnesota Shubert Performing Arts and Education Center will be a performance, rehearsal and administrative home to more than 20 Minnesota arts organizations. These groups now perform in a variety of spaces, most of them inadequate. The Minnesota Shubert Center will allow these organizations to grow artistically by giving them what they need: a marquee venue in a great location. Below are just some of the arts organizations that will make the Minnesota Shubert Center their home.

Ballet of the Dolls strives to engage and foster dance appreciation in the community by creating, performing and teaching dance and theatre, using both novel and traditional concepts. Their work is based in storytelling and grounded in the respected heritage of ballet, with an esthetic of style and modernity. The result is an offbeat mix of art forms that creates spirited entertainment within an intimate, theatrical experience.

The Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS) provides a unique musical experience for young people, aiding in their development both as young artists and as young adults. In doing so, GTCYS offers interested students the opportunity to further their music and performance skills in an orchestral setting.

Illusion Theater develops and produces new works that give voice to artists who reflect a variety of cultural perspectives and who contribute to the fabric of theater here and across the country. In doing this, Illusion provides opportunities for both emerging and established artists, with a special commitment to the Twin Cities community of artists.

James Sewell Ballet was founded in 1990 by James Sewell and Sally Rousse when both danced in New York companies. Together they envisioned their own small, close-knit company of artists willing to expand their notions about ballet and to perform work that challenged their physical limits. The embodiment of James and Sally's original vision is a company that performs innovative works that explore the technical boundaries of ballet.

The Minnesota Ballet (Duluth) is a professional company of fourteen dynamic artists, based in Duluth, MN that tours nationally, entertaining audiences with a repertoire as diverse as it is artistic. The Ballet offers original works ranging from classical ballet and modern to highly theatrical ballroom and jazz.

The Minnesota Chorale is a Principal Chorus of the Minnesota Orchestra and ranks among the foremost professional choruses in the United States. Led by Kathy Saltzman Romey since 1995, the Chorale is best known for its work with the Twin Cities' two major orchestras, but is equally dedicated to fostering and deepening community through its award-winning Bridges™ outreach initiatives, educational activities, and independent presentations of choral works.

Since its debut in 1962, the Minnesota Dance Theatre and School have led the Twin Cities in teaching, performing and celebrating the art of dance. Founded by internationally acclaimed choreographer, producer and teacher, Loyce Houlton masterfully integrated ballet and modern techniques to create her own contemporary aesthetic.

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra is the nation's only full-time professional chamber orchestra and is widely regarded as one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world. Renowned for its artistic excellence and remarkable versatility of musical styles, the SPCO tours nationally and internationally, including performances in premier venues in Europe, Asia and South America.

VSA arts of Minnesota, founded in 1986, is an affiliate of VSA arts in Washington D.C. which was founded in 1974 by Jean Kennedy Smith. V S A stands for Vision, Strength, and Access. It is a non-profit agency that provides programs and services that make the arts available and accessible to Minnesota people with disabilities.

Based in Minneapolis, VocalEssence is recognized internationally as one of America's premier choral arts organizations. Under the enthusiastic leadership of Philip Brunelle, the 120-voice VocalEssence Chorus and the 32-voice VocalEssence Ensemble Singers are renowned for their innovative exploration of music for voices and instruments.

Since its first performance in 1983, Zenon Dance Company has grown to be one of the nation's premiere repertory dance companies. It is one of only a few companies in the United States to commission and perform both modern and jazz works created by emerging Twin Cities choreographers as well as internationally renowned masters. Zenon's dance school provides high quality dance instruction for avocational and professional dancers within a diverse curriculum.