Ballet Minnesota: Black Dog Café & Italian Symphony

A favorite with Lowertown's artists, the Black Dog Café and its bohemian spirit have been captured in dance by the Minnesota Ballet and transferred, louche charm and all, to the Fitzgerald Theater. While the dance premiered in 2006 and included actual artists and waitpersons from the café, it has since been updated to incorporate music by Desdemona and Carnage. Choreographer Andrew Rist has upped the cultural ante by including a real live neo-classical ballet, Italian Symphony, to music by Mendelssohn in the program, and offering the entire performance for free. What a way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this lively company, and to demonstrate that dance is alive and well in St. Paul.
Fri., Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Oct. 20, 2 & 7:30 p.m., 2007