Save the Date!!!!!
"Dancing for the Arts" will be back by popular demand!
Mark Saturday, April 13, 2013 on your calendars now!
"Dancing for the Arts"
Youth Arts Education Grant Application is now available!
The Rochester Arts Council Board has designated all voting monies raised will be distributed through a grant process conducted by an independent panel of grantors.
So whether you are an individual or an organization, you are eligible to apply for funding for your proposed project benefiting youth arts education in Rochester.
Grant applications are being accepted with a deadline of June 1st, and the selected project(s) will need to be completed by June 1st of 2013.
If further information is needed, please contact the Arts Council office.
And the trophy is awarded to..........
As the Four Seasons would sing, "What a Night!" as Dancing for the
Arts took Center Stage at the Mayo Civic Center's Exhibit Hall!!!
The sold out crowd was greeted at the door by Mayo High School students dressed in prom-style finery, who then escorted attendees to their seats. The professional lighting hanging above the stage, (conceived and provided by Dan Van Hook of Spectrum ProAudio), colored the 30 foot by 30 foot dance floor (built by Mayo Civic Center staff only a few hours before the doors opened- Thank you, TR!), while other lights moved throughout the room, a truly festive mood enhancer. As one of the Mayo HS students said, "Wow! I don't feel like I'm in Rochester!" or Kansas for that matter.
The Arts Council had many sponsors who helped this event come to pass (and they are greatly appreciated and listed on our sponsor sidepanel ), but an extra shout out is given to our star sponsors: The Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation, Think Mutual Bank, Dr. Richard and Evelyn Berger, Home Federal Savings Bank and the Judy and Jim Sloan Foundation.
In the background dotting the i's and crossing the t's was Sinead Chick, who wishes to remain in the background, but was a great left-hand person to this author. And I say left-hand because, well, some of us are left-handed.
While attendees enjoyed the dinner prepared by the Canadian Honker, and anticipated the mouth-watering desserts courtesy of the Honker, Cold Stone Creamery, DoubleTree Hotel and Kahler Grand Hotel, the celebrity and professional dancers waited hidden behind the scenes, having made their last "shameless plugs" for votes amongst the attendees (Post-Bulletin publisher Randy Chapman particularly comes to mind, although a young lad handing out Mike Munoz cards with a bag of M & Ms was also particularly effective) before leaving to don costumes and limber up one last time. All those months of dance lessons were about to be revealed!
Stage Manager Kate Bender cued Emcees Dr. Tom Shives and Tracy McCray, who took to the stage precisely at the appointed hour, and an energetic performance by the University of MN Rochester Ballroom Dancers got the place "in the mood".
And then Shives and McCray reminded everyone of the true purpose of the event, and that was to benefit youth arts education through all voting proceeds for the evening. And so throughout the evening, people voted for their favorites, their relatives, their friends, and the counting team, led by Michon Rogers and aided by Rene LaFlamme (DFTA program designer extraordinaire) were kept on their toes as well.
The intrepid judges were going to have a tough task ahead of them, but the Honorable
Sandy Keith (aka Mr. Wonderful- sorry, you had to be there, but he truly was wonderful), Julie Jones and Al Mannino handled their paddles with aplomb.
And from start to finish, all the teams were sensational.
When the first video, showing Lisa Clarke's first dance lessons as recorded and edited by Joel DesLauriers (of Alloro, Inc) came on the big screens, indicative of all the other videos to come, you knew this was going to be special, and then the lights went up and oh, the costumes, the hair and make-up, the tattoo (ask Tessa next time you head over to Sontes) the moves on the dance floor, the grace (think Melissa Brinkman for one), the flow (Lisa Clarke-she did get it!), Laura Lee's spot-on jive rhythm (who knew sitting behind her anchor desk?), the John Travolta-Gregory Stavrou moves, Randy Chapman's perfect moves and expressions, never cross Sharon Gentling when she's near a machine gun, the Scott Hoss afro, Brad Jones' revenge on April Dahl, how good Mike Munoz would look in satin teal at a school board meeting...the cheers, applause, and finally... the relief that the 2 and a half minutes were over. But when all was said and done, the celebs admitted they had an amazing time, and most importantly fun, a new respect for dance, fun, a new or renewed interest in dance, fun, weight loss and better posture, fun, and did we mention fun?
And the pros had just as much fun, and can't wait for next year. They were truly amazing.
But what was truly amazing was the competition team of 15 year old Danika Dahl and 13 year old Nick Geroux. They entertained the crowd as the teams waited for the results, and were hands down favorites.
It seems like the audience had fun too as a second dance floor was set up for the after-the-party-party where attendees would dance until the stroke of midnight to the Hooker and Booker band, courtesy of University of Minnesota Rochester. Judy and Jim Sloan cut quite the rug dancing for awhile.
But before we even get to that party, who won? Well, all the celebs and pros who took to the stage were winners in our book, and received a hand-blown glass paper weight with a dancer pirouetting inside(at least it could be interpreted as that) with the official DFTA logo and the date of 2012. As a remembrance of their efforts to aid youth arts education.
Randy Johnson, Chief Auditor of the McGladrey Auditing Team on duty that night overseeing the accuracy of the counting, brought his lock box to the stage, where he certified the accounting to be true for all to witness.
Mayor Ardell Brede, Rochester's #1 Supporter of the Arts, was given the honor of unsealing the envelope for the first award: The Judges Trophy. The Judges Trophy (with its base of rosewood and an attached crystal ball) was awarded to:
LAURA LEE (ABC Channel 6/KAAL-TV anchor)AND JOHN VITEK (past winner of Dancing with the Winona Stars)
and then Mayor Brede unsealed the envelope for the name of the team taking home the coveted 2012 Dancing for the Arts Trophy (created and donated by Karrie Geroux of ArtBitz fame)........
and the posse from the Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau went wild as the Mayor announced the team of
BRAD JONES (Executive Director of the RCVB) AND APRIL DAHL(of Dahl Dance Center)
And thus ended the inaugural Dancing for the Stars. But with so many people already talking that night about making this an annual event and building on it, how could we say no?
While we get our Photo Gallery up and running, check out these amazing pictures from the Post-Bulletin website.
So when we come a'callin' , please answer your phone! We guarantee it will change your life and just possibly the life of a child.
Who Hasn't Heard of Ovation TV?
is an all arts network that showcases many different forms of art not available anywhere else on television. Unfortunately it's not carried by Charter Communications in Rochester, but those with satellite dishes have access to it. As the only multi-platform network devoted to arts culture, it gives viewers access to the artists who define our cultural landscape through its one-of-a-kind mix of hand-picked documentaries, series, movies and specials.
It also has created an award-winning online community for everyone from passionate artists to curious creatives who want to share their work and their thoughts. And that certainly sounds like our Rochester creative community! Better yet, you might even end up on TV!
So check it out and if you like what you see, and want it for Rochester, contact Charter and let them know you've heard of Ovation and they belong in our vibrant arts community.
Arts & Economic Prosperity IV Study has ended!
32 Organizations Worked Together to Gather Data
The Rochester Arts Council's study to determine the economic impact of nonprofit Arts and Cultural Organizations and their Audiences in the City of Rochester has closed as far as the data gathering portion of the study. Now all the data is in the hands of Americans for the Arts for analysis and inclusion in the national project. Those results will be released to the public in June 2012. But a big THANK YOU is in order for all those who participated in the gathering of the information and especially to the audience members who took the time to complete the survey.
A project of Americans for the Arts, the Arts Council was chosen to be the representative for the state of Minnesota, as well as commissioning a customized study for Rochester thanks to generous partnerships with the City of Rochester, University of Minnesota Rochester, Mayo Clinic and Home Federal Savings Bank.
In addition to the Rochester Arts Council, participating organizations included Bella Voce Young Women's Choir, Children's Dance Theatre, Children's Museum of Rochester, Choral Arts Ensemble, Diversity Council, History Center of Olmsted County, Honors Choirs of Southeast Minnesota, Lyra Baroque Orchestra, Mayo Civic Center, Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine, RCTC Drama Club, Rochester Aria Group, Rochester Art Center, Rochester Chamber Music Society, Rochester Civic Music, Rochester Civic Theatre, Rochester Dance Company, Rochester Downtown Alliance, Rochesterfest, Rochester International Film Group, Rochester Male Chorus, Rochester Music Guild, Rochester Music Men Barbershop Chorus, Rochester Public Library, Rochester Repertory Theatre Company, Rochester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale, Southeastern Minnesota American Guild of Organists, Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestra, St. John's Block Party and Vertigo Theatre Factory.
In 2006, it was determined that close to $18 million was spent in southeastern Minnesota. We had an opportunity to determine the economic impact that the arts have in Rochester specifically. The Arts Council will receive its customized study in April 2012, and the results will be available for publication in conjunction with the national findings in June 2012.
Speaking of Dancing.....
Dancing is great exercise and is a wonderful heart-healthy activity.
Our friends over at the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media have put together a heart healthy message on YouTube that is sure to get your toes tapping.
It’s a parody of the 1980s hit by Tommy TuTone, “867-5309” or “Jenny.” But it has a serious message – Know Your Numbers – Blood Pressure, Lipids and BMI. They also developed a new Facebook app that will help you calculate your risk of a heart attack and learn how to prevent one. Video viewers also have the opportunity to enter a contest to earn points by helping spread the word about heart attack risk factors.
All the singers, musicians and actors are Mayo Clinic staff.
Check it out, and then have yourself checked out so, as the musical Wicked notes, you can keep dancin' through life.
Rochester's Legacy Weekend Captured On Video Postcard
Rochester played host for the month of August in the yearlong State celebration of the activities and organizations funded through the strong approval of the people of Minnesota
through the arts and cultural heritage fund. Click on the video for a sampling of how important this funding is in maintaining the quality of life for all Minnesotans and those who visit.
Building A Creative Economy (BACE) Unifies the Arts Voice
Too often it appears that Arts communities seem fractured in their ability to work together, when the opposite is often the truth. In Rochester, the Arts Council, through BACE, is providing the opportunity to unite the Arts voice by inviting all arts and cultural organizations, as well as individual artists, to join the effort to change the conversation of the role culture plays in building a creative economy.
Over the past three months, the Arts Council convened four meetings- two were facilitated discussions with board members from various arts organizations and their respective executive and artistic directors, and two were meetings with individual artists (visual and performing) to contribute their thoughts and ideas to this important conversation.
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A number of strategic issues were addressed that related to how our arts and cultural communities can position themselves to impact the future development of Rochester, as well as address the concerns of our individual artisans.
The beginning steps have been taken, but more needs to be done as Rochester's arts and cultural community unifies because the arts are critical to the future of Rochester.
Stay tuned.
KSMQ goes off90 and finds off the wall "Barn Bar"
The Rochester Arts Council Board Chair, Bob Sanborn, has been busy these past 4 seasons quietly creating, with a little help from his friends, a YouTube phenomenon in his barn.
The secret is now out as KSMQ showcases Barn Bar, the strangest bar since Star Wars.
If you want to see what the buzz is about, and catch sight of some people you might just know frequenting this place, go to Barn Bar.
"Life's a Bench!"-get one!
Thanks to the Parks and Recreation Department, the benches have been placed in their locations for everyone to sit a spell and touch the artwork. Because when life gets hectic and you want to take a few minutes to relax and re-group, what better way than to immerse yourself in an artistic surrounding, to feel the soothing beauty of art restoring your spirits when Life's a Bench!
Find the benches around Rochester
Please note that the Wizard of Oz bench is inside the Mayo Civic Center (near the Civic Theatre) for the winter, but outside next to the Arts Council goose for the summer.
This could not have happened without the generous support of our Life's a Bench! sponsors** so please thank them by supporting them as well:
Richard & Evelyn Berger, City of Rochester, Mayor Ardell F. Brede, DoubleTree Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn, Alan & Judy Hoffman, Home Federal Savings Bank, Mayo Clinic, Peter & Bari Amadio, Post-Bulletin Co., Rochester Downtown Farmers Market Friends, Carl & Verna Schmidt Foundation, Judy & Jim Sloan Foundation, The Shops at University Square, Think Mutual Bank, US Bank Building, University of Minnesota Rochester.
**This activity is also funded in part by the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council through the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota state Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008;and by the Rochester Downtown Alliance.
Did you know?.......The Rochester Arts Council is eligible to receive matching grants through the IBM Matching Grants Program. We want to thank all the current employees and retirees who not only donated to us, but completed the matching grant form. If you are a current or former IBM employee, and a donor to the Rochester Arts Council, please consider the matching program. Funds received will help defray the costs of ARTigras.
if you have enjoyed the Goose is Loose! project, you still have the opportunity to own all 18 geese at a fraction of the cost, because posters are available for purchase anytime at the Arts Council office in Mayo Civic Center-Skyway level in the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Methodist Hospital Gift Shop and Saint Marys Hospital Gift Shop, the History Center of Olmsted County and at Hering Galleries at 2002 2nd Street, official framer of the Goose is Loose! poster.
The cost of a poster is $15. Also available are Limited Edition 16 oz. 100% Pure Soy Candles featuring 6 of the geese, each with their own scent, but supplies are running low!. All proceeds benefit the Rochester Arts Council in accomplishing its mission of supporting the arts.
Since there is always too much to do in Rochester, our Events Calendar has been color-coordinated. Fundraisers are in green, events in red and auditions and gallery showings in blue. We hope this central location will assist arts organizations and others in planning their own activities, such as fundraisers. As well as letting everyone know when that high school or college play is being performed, or the season schedule for your favorite performing arts group. But this interactive website is also only as good as those who use it- so submit your events and refer to the calendar and Events section for all things Arts.
Thanks for visiting our site!
