FALL FORWARD FESTIVAL RETURNS AUGUST 2026
Fall Forward Festival is a presentation and celebration of Twin Cities dance, both the perennial companies who define us, and the newest voices in our community. The festival includes performances, educational experiences, and community engagement activations.
Fall Forward Festival was originally the brainchild of The Cowles Center, and is now under the helm of Hothouse. We believe in the robust local dance community, and our endless potential to create work that challenges and entertains audiences.
Featuring 20 Minneapolis-based dance companies and independent artists, Fall Forward Festival will span two weekends and 10 shows at the Luminary Arts Center.
August 14-16 & August 20-23
Luminary Arts Center / Minneapolis, MN
The 2026 Festival is funded in part by the City of Minneapolis
Bridge Fund for Dance.
FESTIVAL HEADLINERS
ANANYA DANCE THEATRE
Informed by a transnational feminist lens, ANANYA DANCE THEATRE’S work electrifies the intersectional frontiers of artistic excellence, social justice, and community-embedded practice, inspired by the lives and dreams of BIPOC women and femmes from around the globe.
DUNIYA DRUM AND DANCE
DUNIYA DRUM AND DANCE’S mission is to provide opportunities for communities to learn and experience the stylized rhythms, traditional movement and rich history of West Africa.
ARENA DANCES
For more than 30 years, ARENA DANCES has created and presented innovative contemporary dance experiences that inspire dialogue, celebrate diversity, and foster meaningful connections among artists, audiences, and communities.
VIE BOHEME
VIE BOHEME is a multimodal artist, singer, dancer, actress, poet, choreographer, film maker, wellness worker and a writer — designing theatrical performance experiences that weave these mediums
BLACK LABEL MOVEMENT
BLACK LABEL MOVEMENT makes wildly physical, naturally virtuosic, intellectually and emotionally engaging movement-driven art and embodied activities that examine and engage the human condition to inspire vivid lives. Week 1: ‘Duet for Wreck’. Week 2: ‘Bleeding Heart’.
FEATURED COMPANIES & ARTISTS
ALEXANDER HILLE & pier loup
AMEZ DANCE
EMILY MICHAELS KING
HATCH DANCE
JAVAN MNGREZZO
lily conforti & jake nehrbass
PAPER DOLL PRODUCTIONS
MERIDIAN MOVEMENT COMPANY
RHYTHMICALLY SPEAKING
RUBY JOSEPHINE DANCE THEATER
SHAPESHIFT
technica movement
SHANNON HARTLE DOLAN
Zach Manske
show lineups
WEEKEND 1
WEEKEND 2
TICKETING
FESTIVAL PACKAGES
INCLUDES A DRINK TICKET & RESERVED SEAT
CALL BOX OFFICE TO BOOK
3 TICKETS
10% OFF
4 TICKETS
15% OFF
5 TICKETS
20% OFF
6+ TICKETS
25% OFF
VIP SEATING
$45
BEST SEATS, RESERVED
GENERAL ADMISSION
$35
SUGGESTED (SLIDING SCALE, $25 MINIMUM)
RUSH TICKETS
$20 AT THE DOOR BEFORE SHOW. SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY
GROUP SALES
10+ TICKETS, 10% OFF. CALL BOX OFFICE TO BOOK.
LUMINARY ARTS CENTER
700 N 1ST STREET, MINNEAPOLIS
612.333.6669
ANANYA
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AMEZ
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BLACK LABEL MOVEMENT
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DUNIYA
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ARENA
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LILY CONFORTI
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RHYTHMICALLY SPEAKING
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EMILY MICHAELS KING
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HATCH DANCE
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RJDT
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SHAPESHIFT
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JAKE NEHRBASS
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MERIDIAN
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VIE BOHEME
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PAPER DOLL PRODUCTIONS
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ALEX HILLE
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JAVAN MNGREZZO
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SHANNON HARTLE-DOLAN
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TECHNICA MOVEMENT
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ANANYA 〰️ AMEZ 〰️ BLACK LABEL MOVEMENT 〰️ DUNIYA 〰️ ARENA 〰️ LILY CONFORTI 〰️ RHYTHMICALLY SPEAKING 〰️ EMILY MICHAELS KING 〰️ HATCH DANCE 〰️ RJDT 〰️ SHAPESHIFT 〰️ JAKE NEHRBASS 〰️ MERIDIAN 〰️ VIE BOHEME 〰️ PAPER DOLL PRODUCTIONS 〰️ ALEX HILLE 〰️ JAVAN MNGREZZO 〰️ SHANNON HARTLE-DOLAN 〰️ TECHNICA MOVEMENT 〰️
Festival EVENTS
preview night
Get an exclusive look at short excerpts before
they hit the main stage. No entry fee.
August 9, 2026
Hothouse Dance Studio
CLASS/workshops
Train alongside the company directors and
choreographers behind this year's festival.
August 15, 16, 22, 23
Luminary Arts Center
SCHEDULE TBA
closing PARTY
Celebrate with us — a night to honor our dancers and the community that make it all possible. Co-hosted with The Great Northern , featuring DJ Sophia Eris & performances by Hothouse staff & community.
August 23
Luminary Arts Center
SPONSOR + VOLUNTEER
Your support — through sponsorship, donation, or volunteering — helps keep
local art and performance thriving in the Twin Cities.
We are seeking volunteers for show ushers and stagehands.
Contact us to get involved.
PRESS / MEDIA
CONTACT
HELLO@HOTHOUSMPLS.COM
The Fall Forward Festival Production Team is comprised of Hothouse directors Rachel Doran and Laura Sukowatey, and longtime collaborator and Hothouse staff member Kia Hill. Our 2026 Support Staff includes Stage Manager Jessie Storovich and Lighting Designer Jacob Hofer. The 2026 Festival is funded in part by the City of Minneapolis Bridge Fund for Dance.
