The O'Shaughnessy Presents TU Dance This Weekend

The O'Shaughnessy presents TU Dance as the celebrated dance company opens its 11th performance season with a world premiere work by renowned Icelandic choreographer Katrín Hall, commissioned by The O'Shaughnessy. On stage at 8pm this weekend, Nov. 21-22 and 2pm on Sunday, Nov. 23 at The O'Shaughnessy, the performances also feature selections from the rich TU Dance repertoire with choreography by Dwight Rhoden and TU Dance Artistic Director Uri Sands.

In this major commission featuring the full TU Dance company, Hall brings her bold, lyrical sensibility to The O'Shaughnessy for the first time. With this piece, she explores the concept of finding space - both literally and figuratively. Multi-media projections will enhance her ground-breaking choreography, which was recently hailed internationally as "creating a total work of art...an inspiring evening of great density, in which the company finds beautiful harmony" (Braunschweiger Zeitung). Hall is recognized for innovative work across a wide spectrum of choreographic genres, from contemporary stage work for Iceland Dance Company to film and television, including the music video for Shakira's single "Did It Again" (2009).

The O'Shaughnessy program will also feature "If and Or," a vibrant full-company contemporary ballet work choreographed by Dwight Rhoden; "High Heel Blues," a playful duet on the theme of knowing what's good for us, choreographed by Sands; and "One," also by Sands and commissioned by Dance St. Louis to honor the legacy of Henrietta Lacks and the HeLa cell.

Over its first 10 years, TU Dance has conveyed a contemporary vision of dance as a connective power, drawing artists and audiences into a shared theater experience that celebrates, challenges and inspires. Founded in 2004 by Toni Pierce-Sands and Uri Sands, the professional 12-member company is acclaimed for its diverse, versatile artists, performing work that draws together modern dance, classical ballet, African-based and urban vernacular movements. In 2011, the organization opened TU Dance Center in Saint Paul, which provides year-round educational programming for dance students of all ages and levels of experience and also serves as a home studio for the professional company. Recently, TU Dance received funding from The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to expand class offerings and community outreach programs.

TU Dance company members are Darwin Black, Tara Cacciatore, Taylor Collier, Kendra Dennard, Hassan Ingraham, Demetrius McClendon, Alanna Morris-Van Tassel, David Rue, Duncan Schultz (who was just recognized as the 2014 Outstanding Dance Performer by the SAGE Awards for Dance), Kaitlin Setzke, Katelyn Skelley and Elayna Waxse.

Tickets are $18, $25, and $31 with discounts for students, seniors and military. For more information and tickets, contact The O'Shaughnessy Ticket Office at 651-690-6700; business hours are Mon.-Sat. 12:00p.m.-7:00p.m.; 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.

PHOTO CREDIT: Ingrid Werthmann

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