Iconic Twin Cities Dance Hub To Close: Loss For Local Arts Scene
Sad news for dance lovers in the Twin Cities! The Cowles Center is closing its doors on March 31, 2024. A huge loss for our arts community. 💔 #TwinCities #DanceCommunity #SaveTheArts
Minneapolis, Minnesota – In a surprising turn of events, the Cowles Center for Dance & The Performing Arts in Minneapolis is closing its doors for good on March 31, 2024.
This venue, known for its dance concerts, has been a cornerstone of the Twin Cities‘ artistic community. Financial troubles have forced the center to cease operations, leaving local dancers and companies scrambling to find new stages.
The Cowles Center, home to the Goodale Theater, has been a free-spirited haven for dance since 2011. Aparna Ramaswamy of Ragamala Dance Company, which specializes in South Asian dance styles, expressed the community’s heartbreak over losing this cherished space. The center was more than just a theater; it was a historic building moved 10 blocks to its current location, symbolizing a blend of past, present, and future in dance.
The center’s closure not only affects performers like Ramaswamy but also educators like Lisa Berman, who highlights the center’s role in promoting street dancing. Rachel Doran, founder of Crash Dance Productions, points out the unique features of the Cowles Center that made it ideal for dance performances, such as the stage size and flooring.
The Cowles Center’s partnership with Artspace, a real estate developer focused on arts spaces, provided significant financial support. However, the economic fallout from 2020 and other challenges made it impossible for Artspace to continue this support. Despite efforts to find new operators, no solution was reached, leading to the center’s closure.
The loss of the Cowles Center is a significant blow to the Twin Cities’ dance community, affecting not only performers but also audiences who enjoyed diverse dance forms. The center’s commitment to fulfilling contractual obligations and the city’s takeover of the Goodale Theater offer some consolation, but the future of dance in the area remains uncertain.
The closure of the Cowles Center is a stark reminder of the fragility of the arts in our communities. It’s a wake-up call for us to support and cherish our local cultural institutions.
As we bid farewell to this iconic venue, let’s rally around our artists and ensure that the spirit of dance continues to thrive in the Twin Cities and beyond. The end of one chapter can be the beginning of another, filled with new stages, new performances, and a renewed commitment to the arts.
🗣 Do you have any memories of the Cowles Center? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. ⬇️
