Minnesota Ballet

05/24/2026

Coming up on June 6th in Studio 4!

Two weeks from tonight, it all comes together.

And today, the collaborative work begins.

Lake Arts Project's Finding Your Voice brings veterans, artists, and community members into the same space to transform their lived experiences into art: movement, expression, and storytelling that speaks when words fall short.

What starts today ends on a stage. And you're invited to witness it.

Minnesota Ballet's Studio 4 | St. Louis County Depot, Duluth, MN
Saturday, June 6th | 6:00 PM
$20 general admission | FREE for veterans

Don't miss your chance to be in that room.

Share this with someone who needs to hear these stories.

Made possible by The Depot Foundation, private support, and Minnesota Ballet.

05/22/2026

Minnesota Ballet is hosting and collaborating in this special performance on June 6th at 6pm.

05/04/2026

For 60 years, the Minnesota Ballet has been shaped not only by the dedicated dancers gracing its stages, but also by the perseverance of those working behind the scenes to elevate the company. In celebration of this anniversary, we collected reflections and memories from individuals intertwined with Minnesota Ballet's history. These interviews, paired with footage and archival material honor where we’ve been, what we’ve built, and what continues to grow.

Minnesota Ballet Celebrates 60 Years

04/22/2026

Join us as we celebrate International Dance Day with an exciting showcase of talent, culture, and creativity! This year, we are proud to feature six incredible dance groups, each bringing their own unique style and energy to the stage.
From vibrant cultural traditions to modern rhythms, these groups represent the beauty and diversity of dance from around the world. Get ready to experience a dynamic performance filled with passion and storytelling. Come celebrate with us and feel the power of dance to connect, inspire, and bring people together! 🎶✨This is a free event to bring the whole family too!

The schedule:
Niigaani Dance Company: 11:00 AM-11:45
Duluth Scottish Heritage Association dancers: 12:00 PM-12:30 PM
Northshore ballroom: 12:45-1:30
Titambe West African Dance Ensemble: 1:45 PM-2:15 PM
Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Ensemble: 2:30-3:00 PM
Minnesota Ballet Dance Academy: 3:15 PM-3:45 PM

04/21/2026

That’s a wrap on the 2025-2026 season, thanks for celebrating our 60th anniversary, here’s to another 60 years of movement and community. 🤍

04/17/2026

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Introducing the Karl von Rabenau era from 2019- current. Karl von Rabenau, began his ballet studies at the School of the Minnesota Ballet. von Rabenau went on to dance professionally with Boston Ballet, Ballet Omaha, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and as a soloist with the Milwaukee Ballet. After retiring from his professional career, von Rabenau sought a full-time pursuit to teach dance, his personal passion. After being appointed Artistic Director one of his first priorities was to choreograph a Nutcracker that would be the Northland’s own, complete with the indoor setting in Depot’s train level. He has created totally new works such as Sleepy Hollow and the Ballet’s first full productions of Romeo and Juliet and Giselle. 
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Thank you for following along on our series…From the first board and a score of enthusiastic citizens, the dream has continued to grow. The community founded the Ballet. The community has sustained it for decades, and remains a valued part of Minnesota Ballet as it moves upward in its second century of excellent dance, education, outreach, and performance. We hope to see you at the depot theater for our two performances of Retrospective THIS WEEKEND ONLY!

Picture 1: Erin Sung Koch and Karl von Rabenau in Gernot Petzold’s Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker.

Picture 2:The Nutcracker: A Duluth Tale

Picture 3: Erin Haebig, Tyler Piwowarczyk, Brianna Crockett, Sean M. Sullivan in South of the Blazer choreographed by Isaac Sharratt and Nicole Teague.

Picture 4: Naomi Doty and Reinhard von Rabenau in At Last! choreographed by Jennifer Miller and Karl von Rabenau.

Picture 5: Skye, Sara Jumper, Dominique Jenssen, Kentaro Shiazowa, Sean M. Sullivan in Beyond Self choreographed by Ashley McQueen and Thom Dancy.

Picture 6:Pierce Gallagher, Taylor Phillips in Romeo and Juliet.

Picture 7: Brianna Crockett and Matthew Frezzell in Giselle.

04/16/2026

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Associate Director Robert Gardner stepped into the role of Director following Allen Fields’ retirement. He carried the Ballet’s cherished traditions forward while making the role his own. Audiences were treated to a wonderful array of premieres — including his enchanting A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the breathtaking Firebird, the playful Carnival of the Animals, and the innovative contemporary ballet Recurrent Stages, featuring original music by composer Ryan Homsey. He also brought his sweeping, full-length Swan Lake to the stage for audiences to enjoy. One of the most memorable highlights of this remarkable era was the Ballet’s 50th Anniversary Gala Performance — a joyful celebration of five decades of artistry, passion, and dance that brought together beloved works from throughout the company’s rich history.

Picture 1: Snow Pas with Suzanne Kritzberg and Yosuke Yamamoto

Picture 2: Company members Benjamin Biswell, Catherine Wooten, Suzanne Kritzberg, Megan Wolfson, and Avi Gold dance in the Grain Exchange building.

Picture 3: “Northern Lights” Lisa Barrieau, Benjamin Biswell, Kaori Takai (costumes by former academy student Anna Fink)

Pic 4: “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” Benjamin Biswell, Anna Acker, Reinhard von Rabenau, Ernesto Lea Place, Suzie Baer

Picture 5: “Dracula” Suzanne Kritzberg and Niklaus Wourms

Picture 6: “Firebird” Emma Stratton and Ryo Munikata

04/15/2026

How do you sum up Minnesota Ballet in just one word? 💙💎 We invited special guests, artists and contributors who’ve shaped our 60-year legacy, to share their perspectives. Experience the impact of Minnesota Ballet for yourself at Retrospective, a mixed repertoire performance honoring over half a century of artistry, athleticism, and community.

📆 April 17-18

📍The Depot Theatre

🎟️ Get your tickets here: https://minnesotaballet.ludus.com/index.php?show_id=200484696

04/15/2026

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Welcome to the Allen Fields Era: 1992–2007. A new and exciting chapter began when the Ballet welcomed Allen Fields as Artistic Director. A former principal dancer with the Cleveland San Jose Ballet and seasoned international guest performer, Fields brought a wealth of experience and vision to the company.

His tenure became the longest in the Ballet’s history — and for good reason. Under his leadership, audiences were treated to beloved classics for the very first time, including Swan Lake Act II, Coppélia, and Giselle Act II, alongside a rich diversity of repertory styles spanning ballroom, jazz, and swing.

The company’s reach grew well beyond Minnesota, with tours stretching as far as El Salvador. Fields also drew remarkable talent to the company, including world-renowned teacher Willie Burmann to coach Giselle and ABT’s Sally Wilson to set Agnes deMille’s “3 Virgins and a Devil.”
And as a crown jewel of this remarkable era, just before its 40th anniversary, the Ballet earned the distinguished honor of performing Balanchine’s world-renowned Apollo — a true milestone worth celebrating.

Picture 1: Suzanne Kritzberg and Rogelio Corrales in “Cinderella”

Picture 2: Allen Field’s Cinderella production was set in Renaissance Tuscany. Pictured; himself and Associate Director Robert Gardner as the gawky Stepsisters.

Picture 3: Snow Scene Corps de Ballet with MNB company member Elsie Franczyk, apprentices Jenny Whitehead and Kellie Whitmyer, and student Clarissa Booth.

Picture 4: Act 2 from “Coppélia”

Picture 5: Under Fields, the Ballet won the rights to perform many masterworks, and it increased touring, including to San Salvador, El Salvador in 1995.