November 10, 2014

Ananya Dance Theatre residency & performance at Historic Holmes Theatre

The Historic Holmes Theatre hosted Ananya Dance Theatre’s residency & performance in Detroit Lakes MN, Nov. 2014

The Historic Holmes Theatre presented Ananya Dance Theatre’s production of “Mohona: Estuaries of Desire” in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, November 8, 2014.

In the week leading to the performance, Artistic Director Ananya Chatterjea and the dancers introduced contemporary Indian dance and the interpretation of abstract, metaphoric dance to students and adults at 11 class, workshop, and presentational settings organized by staff of the Historic Holmes Theatre.

Detroit Lakes Middle School, Detroit Lakes MN

Classes and workshops took place in several of the Detroit Lakes public schools for 4th, 5th, 6th, middle, and high school grade levels; at two community dance studios; at a senior citizen residence; at a water aerobics class at the Detroit Lakes Community & Cultural Center; and at the White Earth Nation.

Artistic Director Ananya Chatterjea spoke about dance and social justice to a luncheon meeting of the Detroit Lakes Rotarians. She and Brittany Radke, a company dancer and native of Detroit Lakes, participated in radio interviews on two stations.

Renée Copeland, Katie Haynes, Brittany Radke & Ananya Chatterjea

Through the good offices of Amy Stearns, executive director of the Detroit Lakes Community & Cultural Center and Historic Holmes Theatre, and her staff, members of Ananya Dance Theatre connected in person with a significant segment, 11%, of the area’s year-round population of 8,500 people. The Rotary Club luncheon provided for an intimate and personal conversation with members of the community.

This was Ananya Dance Theatre’s first performance and extended series of residency activities in a smaller community anywhere, and in the state of Minnesota outside of the Twin Cities.

Public Events:

5th Grade Dance Class Workshop – Lake Park Audobon Elementary School – 60 attendees

Circle of Life Academy, White Earth Nation

6th Grade Dance Class Workshop – Detroit Lakes Public Schools – 55 attendees

Dance Movement Workshop – Summit Dance Studio – 15 attendees

Rotary Club Luncheon – Presentation – 75 attendees

Dance Movement Workshop – Circle of Life Academy, White Earth Nation – 50 attendees

5th Grade Dance Class Workshop – Detroit Lakes Middle School – 125 attendees

Dance Movement Workshop – Northern Lights Dance Studio – 75 attendees

Radio Interviews – KDLM AM & Wave 104 FM – 1,000 (?) listeners

Water Aerobics Dance Movement Class – Detroit Lakes Community & Cultural Center – 55 attendees

Movement Class – Oak Crossings Senior Community – 75 attendees

4th Grade Dance Class Workshop – Roosevelt Elementary School – 125 attendees

“Mohona: Estuaries of Desire” – Historic Holmes Theatre – 254 attendees

Ananya Dance Theatre’s performance and residency activities were made possible, in part, by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Lakes Region Arts Council and the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Backstage at Historic Holmes Theatre, Detroit Lakes, Nov. 8, 2014 • Brittany Radke, Lela Pierce, Renée Copeland, Katie Haynes, Mankwe Ndosi, Chitra Vairavan, Ananya Chatterjea