An Overture to the Iconic Northrop 2025–26 Season

Whether you are a dance aficionado or just stepping into the world of dance, we invite you to witness milestone performances of illustrious companies and trailblazing artists whose creativity has shaped history. These major anniversaries “remind us that Northrop has long played a role in the history of American dance,” says Kristen Brogdon, director of artistic and community programs.

Trisha Brown Dance Company With Merce Cunningham Trust at Northrop celebrates artist Robert Rauschenberg's centennial, with a concurrent exhibition of original costumes, set designs, and historical footage at copresenting partner the Walker Art Center. Also marking an outstanding 100 years, the renowned Martha Graham Dance Company makes a stop on their Graham100 tour, featuring the Americana classic Appalachian Spring. The Joffrey Ballet commemorates 70 years of artistic excellence with American Icons, performed with a live orchestra, and powerhouse Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE honors 40 years through a soul-stirring collaboration with Twin Cities favorite TU Dance.

Reflecting on the rich history of dance inspires Northrop to boldly envision the future, especially as we approach our own 100-year anniversary in 2029. To sustain the performing arts, Northrop Centennial Commissions support new works and elevate artists across the U.S. Northrop has commissioned 17 new works to date, two of which are included in the 2025–26 Season: choreographer Aszure Barton and composer Ambrose Akinmusire’s A a | a B : B E N D and the world premiere of Shamel Pitts | TRIBE’s Marks of RED. 

This season, Northrop will host two fundraising galas that contribute to the Centennial Commissions program: Encore With Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE & TU Dance and Encore With The Joffrey Ballet. These events offer the exclusive, intimate opportunity to enjoy a pre-show dinner, post-show dessert, and mingling with artists and artistic leaders while supporting the performing arts.

Several Northrop audience favorites are back to captivate long-time fans and newcomers alike. Revisiting for the first time since 2000, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, aka the Trocks, perform at Northrop for the 8th time (debuting in 1980), promising a hilarious night of parodic ballet that is fun for everyone. Another returning icon, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater graces our stage for their 13th appearance (debuting in 1971), featuring the cultural treasure Revelations. The Joffrey notches their 16th performance (debuting in 1976) of iconic ballet here, while Martha Graham Dance Company marks their 9th—with a history dating back to their debut in 1966!

This season, several Minnesota artists inspire with spectacular choreography, tenacious stories, and joyful music. In the fall, Twin Cities-based TU Dance collaborates with Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE to underscore our shared humanity through African diasporic creative expression in an evening showcasing Brown’s transformative choreography. Another local group even closer to Northrop, the UMN Marching Band, brings the energy with its 64th Annual Marching Band Indoor Concert, spotlighting on-campus talent and pride with interactive halftime showstoppers.

On a February weekend to remember, Joe Davis, an artist who “produces poetry and music that reminds us to love” according to North News, and The Poetic Diaspora, an ensemble of Twin Cities powerhouse vocalists and multi-instrumentalists, combine for an evening of funky gospel, soulful harmonies, and raw poetic lyricism. Their Pay What You Wish performance of Diaspora: On the Rise honors Black joy, Black love, and Black liberation. The next day, Minneapolis-based VocalEssence invites everyone to join in during the uplifting WITNESS: Symphony of Spirituals, a powerful multigenerational performance—featuring The Justice Symphony by Damien Geter and world premieres by composer B.E. Boykin—that celebrates justice, resilience, and unity.

Speaking of talent close to home, Northrop Organist Greg Zelek is back for his second season of awe-inspiring music on our iconic pipe organ. Zelek kicks things off with Parisian Jazz Night: Featuring Guitarist Alvaro Bermudez, a unique pairing of organ and guitar that highlights French classical and jazz works. For holiday cheer the whole family will enjoy, the Pay What You Wish Sounds of the Season: Relaxed Matinee features Zelek on organ, A Charlie Brown Christmas song highlights, and a vocal solo from a member of the Minnesota Boy Choir.

In more of the unique pairings he is known for, Zelek will also add a bit of sonic majesty with stirring organ accompaniment alongside a live orchestra during a work in The Joffrey Ballet: American Icons program. To close out the Music Series, Zelek bands together with the U of M’s own University Singers, led by UMN professor and Director of Choral Activities Matthew Mehaffey, for a lively Evening of Organ & Choir that includes inventive arrangements of pop hits.