Student Matinee: Complexions Contemporary Ballet

Recommended for Grades 5-12.

What does diverse, inclusive ballet look like for a new generation? Complexions Contemporary Ballet will show your students in this engaging, fun performance. With three decades of game-changing creativity that shatters historical barriers, Complexions demonstrates that no matter your background or body type, there is a place for you to shine in the spotlight! 

This hour-long matinee is a joyful adrenaline rush where impressive athleticism and artistry meet education. Students will learn about contemporary ballet and its relationship to music, experiencing how artists use their bodies to tell stories, challenge stereotypes and push the limits of what is physically possible. 

The performance includes a kinetic homage to the iconic women of jazz in “Midnight Riff” by Complexions founder Dwight Rhoden. Featuring the legendary music of Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Mary Lou Williams and more, the piece offers a rich cross-curricular connection to music and cultural history. Thematic topics covered include: contemporary ballet, fusion, jazz and hip hop dance styles; jazz music; American history; Social Studies; and Ethnic Studies. 

Witnessing this extraordinary event on Northrop’s historic stage at the flagship University of Minnesota campus will do more than just entertain; it will leave your students breathless and inspired by the limitless possibilities of artistic expression!

Top image: Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Photo courtesy of the artist.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Thanks to the leadership and vision of Northrop's Advisory Board, Northrop's dance and music Student Matinees will be free for students and chaperones to attend in the 2026-27 school year.