Since 1992, CAAM Chinese Dance Theater has served families and delighted audiences with some of the best locally-produced Chinese dance in the country. They are a community-based organization under the artistic direction of a world-renowned choreographer and teacher. A division of Chinese American Association of Minnesota (CAAM), the oldest, largest Chinese American community organization in Minnesota, they perform to 40,000 live audience members annually.  In running a dance school, presenting annual concerts, and performing outreach programs, they have become the largest Chinese dance organization in the Midwest.

Chicks on Sticks explores ancient and universal art of stilt-walking. We also explore the powerful dynamic of working together as an all-female arts organization. We have collaborated with puppeteers, dancers, singers, aerialists, and pyro-technicians to create original performances. Our pieces range from tall-tale puppet shows in school gyms flaming pyrotechnic pageants in urban corridors.

Chit Chat Clowns is a company that incorporates African American and African Caribbean dance, songs, and percussion instruments with games, face painting, and balloon twisting entertainment.  Through these actions, Chitchat clowns weave a warm cultural experience mixing African traditions and custom to create celebrations for groups large or small. 

Cyril Paul was born in Trinidad in the West Indies. Cyril came to the US in 1955 to attend St. John's University on a scholarship. Cyril Paul has been playing music in the Twin Cities area since 1960.  The past few years Cyril has been an Artist in Residence with COMPAS. He teaches children about the Caribbean through music, dance, and art. He also brings lessons of diversity and race into the classroom. Cyril's band, "Cyril Paul & the Calypso Monarchs", usually consists of 5 musicians and plays Caribbean Music (Calypso, Reggae, Soca), Latin music, plus many other styles.

José Curbelo, born in Minnesota, studied with master accordionists in Uruguay, and Argentina. José has got people dancing at festivals in Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and the U.S. Ike Russell-Hart (bass) and Andrew Gillespie (drums) bring reggae and funk elements to create an infectious dance music that is a mix of gaucho rhythms from Uruguay, Argentina, and southern Brazil, with Midwestern polkas and waltzes. 

The Collective is a group of diverse dancers with a common love of hip-hop culture. With the understanding of fundamental hip-hop dance styles such as poppin', lockin', uprockin', and breakin', Collective strives to represent old school style with a new school twist.  The members of Collective are active in teaching in the community and supporting Twin Cities' local hip-hop culture.  The company has been pleased to have performed in such critically acclaimed shows as "Dance in the Dark" at the Southern Theater. Collective recently toured South Dakota teaching and performing in the schools and recently performed at Hudson High School as part of their Diversity Days.

A fun, up tempo concert for all ages, featuring music from Dennis' eight CDs and twenty plus year career. Dennis is also the author of the popular children's book, "Beads on One String" featured here at Ordway Center two years ago.

The Jubilate Dance Program is a program of dance assembled by the collaborative work of the Tobak Dance Company, international characters dance company, and Ballet Jubilate, a youth ballet company based in Stillwater, Minnesota.  The aim of the program is to provide a colorful variety of dances that exhibit the joyfulness and beauty of dance in various cultures and walks of life.  Currently, the company is comprised of 25 young people, who have made a strong commitment to the study of dance, aspiring to be professionals.  Their talents and dedication are recognized each summer when many are accepted to national ballet training schools for intensive work.  During the main school year, they live and work on their chosen aspirations in the St. Croix Valley. 

Rooted in classical Kathak dance of north India, Katha Dance Theatre Company and School (KDT) promotes traditional Kathak and extends its boundaries through creative innovation.   We perform and educate with an emphasis on access, community and audience development. KDT creates dance that moves you!

Kôtou Danse is one of the only authentic West African dance companies in Minnesota. We specialize in traditional Ivorian dance from the Ivory Coast, as well as contemporary West African Dance Theate and traditional dance from many West African cultures. We are led by William Atchouellou, an accomplished dancer/choreographer from the ivory Coast with an extensive background of performance and art creation that spans the globe. Kôtou Danse has performed all over the Minneapolis/St.Paul area at a variety of venues and events. We brought the largest crowd ever into Eagan's Caponi Art Park Outdoor Amphitheater, according to Betsy Mowry, Caponi Events Coordinator. We entertained audiences at Patrick's Cabaret in Minneapolis, Landmark Center in St. Paul, and the Center for Independent Artists' Adventure Festival. We were featured performers in the hit Fringe show, African Roads, American Streets in the summer of 2006. Kôtou Danse hosts African dance classes at Pillsbury House in Minneapolis.

Is one of the oldest Mexican folk dance troupes in the State of Minnesota with a current enrollment of over 85 students ranging in ages 3 through adult. Under the direction of Rebecca Moran Cusick, these talented dancers deliver a colorful spectacle of Mexican music and dance to stages throughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.

Mariachi Estrella is a local group from the Twin Cities and consists of 6 musicians on guitars, trumpet, and vocals. You cannot help but dance and smile as this traditional Mexican sound rings from the World Stage.

Mikael Rudolph presents a clean, high-paced and hilarious physical comedy mime performance with stunningly magical prop illusions and European street-style entertainment.  But not only that, Mikael will perform deeply moving mime pieces that demonstrate life's principles.  Audiences delight in his warmly interactive, vigorously animated performance.  Beautiful classical mime technique, charming body-puppet mask characters and plenty of audience participation!!!  Mikael has been a performer at the Flint Hills International Children's Festival since 2004.

Mr. Fun and Mystik Toyz have been teaching the world to play since 1994, bringing together some of the coolest skill toys on the earth such as Mystix Juggling Sticks, Diabolos, Zuni Poi Swings, Yo Yo's and more...Our "Global Games" program teaches about cultures from around the world through these toys and gets everyone in the action. Come Play With Us!

We at Native Pride Productions strive to Educate, empower and encourage individual's ability to reach beyond their goals and visions. We are committed to sharing our interactive programs and workshops to enrich our audience's lives. We are dedicated to building diverse cultural bridges through Native traditions worldwide.

El Arco Iris is an Afro-Puerto Rican performing arts school. We offer classes in traditional music, song, art, and dance to children ages 6-18. We have been teaching classes and keeping our culture alive for 14 years. We are now proud to have a core group of alumni youth, Raices, tour to share our culture with the world!

Salsa del Soul is a Twin Cities-based, nine-piece orchestra performing various styles of dance music from the Spanish-speaking regions of the Caribbean. Salsa del Soul was formed with the purpose to provide great dance music for Twin Cities Salsa fans. The musicians of Salsa del Soul represent some of the finest musicians in the Twin Cities Latin music scene. Self-described as a group of friends that enjoy hanging out and playing music together, Salsa del Soul's styles of music include Son Montuno, Cha-Cha-Cha, Merengue, Plena, and, of course, Salsa. Salsa del Soul performs locally at The Times Bar & Café and Enjoy! Restaurant, among other locations.

Students aged 6-15 perform Javanese gamelan music. Joko Sutrisno is the teacher/director. This activity is a program of the Indonesian Performing Arts Association of Minnesota (IPAAM). “Sumunar,” an Indonesian word meaning “glowing, brilliant light,” is the newly adopted name for IPAAM's performance ensembles.