Eclectic Edge Ensemble

A contemporary jazz dance company with a diverse repertory, Eclectic Edge Ensemble (EEE) collaborates with local musicians, choreographers, and other artists to create musically and theatrically inspired work. The Company aims to present a fresh perspective on jazz dance in the Twin Cities, creating accessible performance experiences that connect to audiences through the pure joy of movement.

This is an epic year for EEE where we will be producing 3 productions, and entering the 2nd year of our Outreach Program and applying to become a 501c3 by August 2012. This is where we need you! A donation today--even as little as $10.00--will help us achieve these goals and build our future.

In February 2012 EEE will be returning to the Ritz Theater with a remount of Reeling over Love, a fan favorite! Reeling Over Love is a campy exploration of the differences between love in the movies and love in real life. Try as we may, attempting to combine the two isn’t always successful. Is love as easy as holding a boombox blaring cheesy romance tunes outside a window after a fight? Brought to life by memory filled tunes, a wonderful movie score written by local composer Josh Kramer, and new intimate sections written and performed live by local composer Brian Erickson, Reeling Over Love questions the split between the magic of movies and real life. Runs February 16th-19th, 2012 at the Ritz Theater in NE Minneapolis.

On Tuesday, March 13th, 2012 EEE is honored to be performing as part of Saint Thomas’ Sacred Arts Festival. We will be performing 4 pieces along with St. Thomas’ choirs and then bringing back Mother Nature Plugged In which first premiered in 2006.

Eclectic Edge Ensemble will be returning to the Ritz Theatre July 19th-22nd, 2012 with our new production A Grimm Tale. The first half will incorporate new and old repertory pieces from EEE including Number 44 by Richard Sloss. There will also be a new piece choreographed by one of the EEE company dancers. The second half Eclectic Edge Ensemble and Mad Munchkin Productions combine forces once again and now will be bringing Grimm Fairytales to life. Puppetry and Jazz dance will interpret famed fairytales of Little Red Riding Hood, Hanzel and Gretel and Cinderella. A Grimm Tale will be a movement based script with puppeteers, actors and dancers with an original score composed by local composers.

This Spring Eclectic Edge Ensemble will begin their 2nd year of EEE's Outreach Program. This is a major piece of Eclectic Edge Ensemble’s strategic plan and long time goal of Artistic Director, Karis Sloss.

We are raising funds to bring our outreach programs to:

• Mulberry Junction at East Side Neighborhood Services (NE Minneapolis) working with students from K-5th grade who have not had any experience with dance classes
• Main Street School of Performing Arts (Hopkins)
• Four local dance studios (South Minneapolis, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and White Bear Lake) where we will be working with intermediate and advanced students between 10-19 years old.

Thank you for your consideration and support for Eclectic Edge Ensemble!