Celebrating 53 Years of Movement: Minnesota’s Vibrant Dance Scene Shines at Choreographers’ Evening
“Dance that inspires, challenges, and entertains.” — Minnesota Star Tribune
The Walker’s annual dance showcase celebrates Minnesota’s vibrant and diverse dance communities—“dance that inspires, challenges, and entertains.” Each year, a roster of local choreographers and movement artists delivers powerful performances curated by a notable Minnesota dancemaker. This year’s program is curated by Twin Cities–based dancer and choreographer Benny Olk, who approaches the evening “as an opportunity to bring people and ideas together to form a constellation that asks us to challenge individuality. Together, we celebrate the flow of ideas through community while uplifting and articulating the specificities of context,” says Olk. “How can the container of this program allow the distinctions between the artworks to be seen and honored? And can we find new meaning in their relationships to one another? In the words of Merce Cunningham, ‘to allow not so much an evening of dances as the experience of dance.’”
With this spirit of collective exploration, Choreographers’ Evening 2025 brings together a dynamic lineup of Minnesota artists, each offering their own perspective on movement, connection, and community.
Featured performers include Dance Rec Pickup League (Leslie O’Neill, Gabriel Anderson, Eva Mohn, Erika Hansen, and Jamie Ryan-Karels), Non Edwards, Judith Shui Xian, Erin Landers, Hannah McKenzie-Margulies, Melissa Clark, Kae McMahon, Maggie Zepp, Carlo Antonio Villanueva, Naomi Crocker, and Joseph Tran.
Choreographers’ Evening 2025
Saturday, November 22, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
McGuire Theater
ABOUT BENNY OLK
Benny Olk is a Minneapolis-based dance artist, maker, and teacher. He holds a BFA in dance from New York University and an MA in New Performative Practices from Stockholm University of the Arts. Olk has performed in works by Lucinda Childs, Merce Cunningham, Moriah Evans, Anthea Hamilton, and Mirko Guido. His own work has been presented at B100, Stockholm University of the Arts, and Red Eye Theater.
Olk’s collaborations with Tristan Koepke have been presented at SPACE, Colby College, and CandyBox Dance Festival. His work with Scott Stafford has appeared at the Dance City Festival and Franconia Sculpture Park. Beyond his work in the studio and on stage, he also finds community on the dance floor at the club.
TICKETS
Ordering tickets is easy: visit walkerart.org/tickets or call 612.375.7600. Prices include all applicable fees. Box Office is open Wednesday–Sunday and one hour before performances
ACCESSIBILITY
For more information about accessibility, visit our Access page.
For questions on accessibility or to request additional accommodations, call 612.375.7564 or email access@walkerart.org.
STUDENTS COME EARLY
Students own the rush line! Get in line an hour before showtime for $15 rush tickets. One ticket per person with student ID. (Some restrictions apply.)
GET TOGETHER
Experience these performances in a group of 10 or more people and save 15% on tickets. Purchase group tickets online, over the phone, or in person. The discount is automatically applied at checkout on orders of 10 or more tickets to the same performance.
MEMBERS DO MORE
Become a member and enjoy a 20% discount on performance tickets, receive unlimited free gallery admission, and more. Call 612.375.7655 or visit walkerart.org/membership.
ABOUT THE WALKER ART CENTER
The Walker Art Center is a renowned multidisciplinary arts institution that presents, collects, and supports the creation of groundbreaking work across the visual and performing arts, moving image, and design. Guided by the belief that art has the power to bring joy and solace and the ability to unite people through dialogue and shared experiences, the Walker engages communities through a dynamic array of exhibitions, performances, events, and initiatives. Its multiacre campus includes 65,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, the state-of-the-art McGuire Theater and Walker Cinema, and ample green space that connects with the adjoining Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The Garden, a partnership with the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, is one of the first urban sculpture parks of its kind in the United States and home to the beloved Twin Cities landmark Spoonbridge and Cherry by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. Recognized for its ambitious program and growing collection of more than 16,000 works, the Walker embraces emerging art forms and amplifies the work of artists from the Twin Cities and from across the country and the globe. Its broad spectrum of offerings makes it a lively and welcoming hub for artistic expression, creative innovation, and community connection.