Shapiro & Smith Dance

For residents of Minneapolis, Minnesota, who appreciate the power, athleticism, and profound storytelling of contemporary modern dance, Shapiro & Smith Dance stands as an internationally acclaimed and deeply impactful artistic treasure. Founded in 1987 by Danial Shapiro and Joanie Smith, and now led solely by Joanie Smith after Danial’s passing in 2006, this company has built a remarkable legacy. They are renowned for performing tales of "beauty and biting wit that run the gamut from the provocative to the hilarious," engaging audiences with breathtaking physicality and emotional depth that explores human passion, courage, and absurdity.

Having established Minneapolis as their home in 1995 after beginning in New York City, Shapiro & Smith Dance has become an integral part of our local arts scene while maintaining a global presence. Their choreography has been commissioned by prestigious companies worldwide, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and they have toured extensively across the U.S. and abroad, performing at iconic venues like The Joyce Theater in New York City. This international recognition speaks volumes about the caliber of artistry they consistently bring to our Minnesota community.

Beyond their captivating performances, Shapiro & Smith Dance is deeply committed to community engagement. They believe in the power of movement to communicate thoughts, feelings, and ideas, and they actively share this philosophy through their innovative "Every Body Speaks" workshops. These programs connect company artists with unique populations, including survivors of domestic violence, female first responders, seniors, and dance students, showcasing their dedication to inclusivity and the transformative potential of dance for all. This article will delve into the rich history, artistic offerings, accessible location, and profound community contributions that make Shapiro & Smith Dance a truly remarkable and suitable local gem for residents of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Shapiro & Smith Dance is located at 528 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403, USA. This address places the company's base directly within the vibrant Hennepin Avenue Cultural District in downtown Minneapolis. This central and highly accessible location offers significant advantages for both the company's operations and for audience members attending their performances or workshops.

Hennepin Avenue is a major artery in Minneapolis, renowned for its theaters, arts venues, and bustling city life. This prime downtown location ensures excellent connectivity via various modes of transportation. For those driving, numerous parking garages and street parking options are available in the immediate vicinity, making it convenient for visitors. Furthermore, the area is well-served by Minneapolis's public transit system, including bus routes and light rail, providing easy access from various neighborhoods across the Twin Cities. This central and accessible positioning underscores Shapiro & Smith Dance's commitment to being an integral and easily reachable part of Minneapolis's rich cultural landscape, enabling broad community engagement with their impactful work.

Shapiro & Smith Dance offers a range of services that extend beyond traditional stage performances, embodying their mission to make contemporary choreography accessible and impactful. Their offerings primarily encompass professional dance, educational outreach, and artistic collaboration.

• Professional Dance Performances: The core of their work involves creating and presenting high-quality, emotionally resonant contemporary modern dance. They perform original works that are praised for their "outrageous athleticism, biting wit, and psychological insight." Their repertoire includes acclaimed pieces like "To Have And To Hold" (also known as "Bench"), which has been performed by over 600 dancers globally, and "ANYTOWN," a powerful production with music by Bruce Springsteen that has had over 40 performances across the U.S.
• "Every Body Speaks" Workshops: A significant community service, these workshops connect Shapiro & Smith Dance artists with diverse populations. Developed from a long-standing partnership with organizations like the Tubman Center in Minneapolis, these workshops use movement to help participants communicate thoughts, feelings, and ideas. They have been adapted for women in shelters, seniors, female first responders, and dance students across Minnesota, serving as "free arts activities and performances for people experiencing trauma."
• Choreographic Commissions and Repertory Licensing: The company's choreography is highly sought after and has been commissioned by and licensed to major dance companies around the world, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Phoenix Dance Company (UK), and PACT Dance Company (South Africa). This allows their unique artistic vision to reach a global audience.
• Artistic Collaboration and Multi-Disciplinary Work: Shapiro & Smith Dance engages in collaborative efforts that combine text and movement, often involving musicians (like the Gear Daddies), visual artists, and other creative disciplines. They create dance-theater that brings "clarity and focus to the fog of real-life."
• Educational Engagement: Beyond their "Every Body Speaks" workshops, Joanie Smith, as the Barbara Barker Endowed Chair in Dance at the University of Minnesota, brings the company's expertise into academic settings, providing mentorship and training to dance students. They also offer workshops to dance students in colleges and studios across Minnesota.
• Community Connections Programs: These programs are designed to bring communities together through dance, exploring themes of love, loss, courage, humor, and female empowerment.

Shapiro & Smith Dance possesses a distinguished set of features and highlights that underscore its prominent position in the contemporary dance world and its deep impact on the Minneapolis community.

• Internationally Acclaimed Choreography: The company's work is globally recognized, having been commissioned by and performed by major companies like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. This speaks to the innovative and compelling nature of their choreographic vision.
• Unique Blend of Athleticism and Storytelling: Shapiro & Smith Dance is celebrated for its distinctive style, which combines "outrageous athleticism" with "biting wit and psychological insight." Their performances are described as emotionally deep, telling stories driven by human passion, courage, and absurdity, resonating strongly with audiences.
• Legacy of Iconic Works: Pieces like "To Have And To Hold" (also known as "Bench"), which has been performed by over 600 dancers, and "ANYTOWN," a powerful production with Bruce Springsteen's music, highlight their creation of enduring and impactful dance works that have reached wide audiences.
• Deep Community Engagement and Outreach: The "Every Body Speaks" workshops are a significant highlight, demonstrating a profound commitment to using dance as a tool for communication, healing, and empowerment among diverse and often vulnerable populations, including women in shelters, seniors, and first responders.
• Visionary Leadership of Joanie Smith: As the sole Artistic Director and Choreographer since 2006, Joanie Smith continues to evolve the company's collaborative methods. Her extensive background (including touring with Murray Louis and Alwin Nikolais) and academic role (Barbara Barker Endowed Chair at the University of Minnesota) underscore the high caliber of leadership and artistic direction.
• Consistent Touring and National/International Presence: The company has extensively toured across the U.S. and internationally, performing four times at The Joyce Theater in New York City and engaging audiences in places like Tashkent, Uzbekistan. This broad reach elevates Minneapolis's cultural profile.
• Critical Acclaim and Awards: Shapiro & Smith Dance has received numerous accolades, including a Sage Award for "Outstanding Performance" and Joanie Smith being named an "Artist Of The Year" by City Pages, Minneapolis, and a Fulbright Senior Scholar.
• Non-Profit Status and Institutional Support: As a 501(c)(3) organization, they receive sustained support from prestigious entities like the National Endowment for the Arts, The McKnight Foundation, and The Target Foundation, affirming their significant cultural value.

For those in Minneapolis interested in learning more about Shapiro & Smith Dance, experiencing their groundbreaking performances, or exploring their impactful community programs, here is the essential contact information:

Address: 528 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403, USA

Phone: (612) 879-0863

Mobile Phone: +1 612-879-0863

For the most current information on their performance schedules, ticket purchases, educational offerings, or opportunities to support their work, it is highly recommended to visit their official website, typically found at shapiroandsmithdance.org. You can often find a contact form or specific email addresses for direct inquiries there, allowing you to connect with this vital Minneapolis arts organization.

For residents of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Shapiro & Smith Dance is an exceptionally suitable and enriching local institution that significantly contributes to our city's vibrant cultural landscape. Its blend of world-class artistry, profound storytelling, and deep community commitment makes it an invaluable asset right here in our hometown.

Firstly, the company’s presence in the heart of downtown Minneapolis at 528 Hennepin Ave offers unparalleled accessibility. This central location within the city's cultural district means that attending their captivating performances or engaging with their programs is convenient for locals from all neighborhoods. Its integration into the urban core enhances the cultural vitality of Minneapolis, making high-caliber dance readily available to our community.

Secondly, Shapiro & Smith Dance's unique artistic voice, characterized by "athletic virtuosity and meaningful movement," resonates deeply with audiences by telling "tales of beauty and biting wit" that illuminate the human condition. For Minnesotans seeking thought-provoking and emotionally engaging artistic experiences, their performances are a powerful draw. The fact that their choreography is sought after by major companies worldwide speaks to the exceptional quality available to us locally, offering a global standard of dance right here in our city.

Furthermore, and perhaps most importantly for locals, the company's commitment to community engagement through programs like "Every Body Speaks" truly sets them apart. By offering free arts activities and performances to diverse populations, including those experiencing trauma, they leverage the transformative power of dance to heal, empower, and connect individuals across our city. This deep dedication to inclusivity and social impact ensures that Shapiro & Smith Dance is not just an artistic entity, but a vital community partner working to enrich lives beyond the stage. Supporting them means directly contributing to a more vibrant, compassionate, and artistically rich Minneapolis for all its residents.

Shapiro & Smith Dance

528 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403, USA