Our 2012/2013 Season is announced- tickets available!

  • 432316_3098406772766_1042026806_32591209_1488372975_n

    Quartet

    Dancers: Luke Olson-Elm, Renee Starr, Sarah Steichen and Timmy Wagner Photo courtesy of Jim Smith

  • 403826_3681978252433_1364371021_3485115_499249433_n

    ARENA Bikini: Beach, BABY!

    Co-chairs Erin Harney and Sandy Simmons with some of the incredible Bikini committee Photo courtesy of Mike Feltault

  • Print

    INstinct – Dance Intensive

    Tap into your inner instinct, cultivate the courage to follow it and the strength to challenge it. INstinct Dance Intensives are designed for college students, adults, and young dance professionals. What is your habit? What is your instinct? The workshop focuses on recognizing and breaking dance habits so that each participant can find his or her own instincts [...]

  • lines

    Main Street Project- 2014 Premiere

       

Mathew Janczewski’s ARENA DANCES

Founded in 1995 by Mathew Janczewski, ARENA's mission is to create and perform original choreography by Janczewski and to promote understanding and appreciation of modern dance. ARENA is one of the area's premiere modern dance companies.

Reviewing for MNARTISTS.ORG, Lightsey Darst called Janczewski's work "...physically brilliant yet emotionally intimate, dramatic, widely varied, witty and heartfelt."

In addition to performing nationally and internationally, the company conducts residencies in schools throughout Minnesota. In 2008, Dance Magazine named Janczewski and ARENA as one of its "25 to Watch".

ARENA DANCES, resides in the newly renovated The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts.

ARENA Features

Les Petites Choses

Opening our 17th season, September 21+22 at the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts with the premier of our new avant-garde company work, Les Petites Choses, set to a variety of music, most notably the French band, Katerine, commenting on consumerism- never quite satiating our want for more. The concert also includes a sneak [...]

POP:UGLY

Closing out our 17th season, we will be working with composer/improviser Phil Fried, combining our artistic synergy to create a new improvisational work,(a first) for the full company-commissioned by the American Composer’s Forum. ARENA will also be brining back an excerpt of UGLY to original music by Morton Subotnick. This work was first commissioned by the [...]