About the Ethnic Dance Theatre
Ethnic Dance Theatre (EDT) is an award-winning company that is the only professional dance company in the Upper Midwest (and one of few in the USA) dedicated to the artistic performance and preservation of world music, song and dance.
Since its founding in 1974, EDT has brought over 50 different cultures and traditions to life in colorful and spellbinding performances. EDT dancers perform to live music by the EDT Folk Orchestra, and the company's extensive repertoire of folk dance and music includes such diverse countries as Austria, Albania, Bulgaria, China, Costa Rica, Germany, Lebanon, Mexico, Mongolia, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Tibet, Turkey, Russia, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. . .to name but a few!
Each year, the company presents as many as 300 programs, including full ensemble 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 dance and cuisine.
The majority of EDT's performers are also active in either the wider arts community and/or in various ethnic communities of the Minneapolis and St. Paul area and beyond. EDT performers' involvement in the wider community is crucial to the many bridges that have been built between EDT and the arts and ethnic communities in our region and beyond.
EDT also has an award-winning costume collection that is, in addition to the incredible talent of EDT performers, the pride and joy of the company. Please click here to read more about and to view photos of our costume collection.
Read Ethnic Dance Theatre's mission statement, and read a bit about the history of the Ethnic Dance Theatre and view a company timeline.
See who's in the Ethnic Dance Theatre Dance Troupe and who's in the Ethnic Dance Theatre Folk Orchestra!
Read more about Ethnic Dance Theatre Artistic Director Donald LaCourse.
Finally, view a list of Ethnic Dance Theatre alumni!
Concert Facts:
Did you know that?
Mumbai
The Gateway to India
Mumbai is one of the most populous cities in the world. It was built across seven islands & was controlled by various empires before the arrival of the first Europeans, the Portuguese. Control ultimately passed to the British who, beginning in the late 18th century, reshaped the city in a series of large-scale civil engineering projects. Under British control, Mumbai emerged as India’s most important center of commerce. Today, it is home to such institutions as the Reserve Bank of India & the National Stock Exchange of India, as well as numerous Indian and multinational corporations. In 1885 the first session of the Indian National Congress ("the Congress Party") was held in Mumbai, and in the 20th century Mumbai was a strong base of support for the Indian independence movement. The city is also the home of Bollywood, India’s film and TV industry. See our Indian suite in PORTS of CALL!
**If you know something interesting--including your own personal story--about a culture represented in our current season, please tell us about it here!