Outdoor Performances

Afro-Cont-Igbo is an African Contemporary Igbo dance and wellness company founded by Korma Aguh-Stuckmayer in 2015. Korma is from the Igbo tribe in Nigeria. Afrocontigbo mixes traditional and modern West African dances. They teach classes and do performances all across the twin cities. Relax and enjoy the invigorating music and joyful moves.

Chicks on Sticks is an all-women’s stilting troupe. Since 1998, Chicks has performed at festivals and parades all over the Twin Cities.

For more information, visit www.chicks-on-sticks.com.

Chit Chat Clowns make fun balloon art creations for celebrations around the Twin Cities.

Dao Lan Dance Studio is one of the largest traditional dance schools located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Our dance studio consists of approximately 90 students, which make up seven dance teams ranging from ages five years old to 20 years old. Our vision is to promote self-appreciation, cultural awareness, and to maintain a well-balanced healthy lifestyle. Our mission is to empower Hmong youths to reach their fullest potential by building self-confidence through dancing. We feel it is important to maintain our cultural heritage and to explore the beauty of other cultures. This is reflected in the different ethnic dances that we learn each year. Our performances consists of different ethnic dances. We are able to tailor our performances to include some story telling so that the audience can be exposed to the beauty of the different Asian culture and gain some knowledge of our Hmong culture and history. ”Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because it's their passion.”

David is an entertainer, not a clown, who actively engages children and adults by creating balloon art. Some of his more popular creations include hats of many types, ninjas, skeletons, Spiderman, or a space aliens. He can also create flowers or corsages, fishing rods (with a small fish attached!), or horses and unicorns. He does not make swords or weapons, substituting other creations that are equally engaging for the children.

With 15 years of experience, DJ Digie has played at hundreds of venues in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota. With over 300 events under his belt, Digie believes that music is the backbone of any event whether as background music to set a vibe or straight dance music to keep the night going! Digie’s music knowledge spans from the classics of the 1950’s through the hits of the 2000’s, including soul, Hip Hop, rock, R&B, pop, and disco.

DJ Huh?What?? is a very active DJ in the Twin Cities – from the radio, to the club, and all the way to the corporate event scene. He specializes in hosting and creating community events, as well as being one of the go-to DJs for prominent community gatherings and celebrations such as both election night events for the mayor of Saint Paul. DJ Huh?What?? considers himself "The Peoples’ DJ!"

drumHeart is WDC’s premiere ensemble led by Alex Connett. They are equally at home at Orchestra Hall as at the Minnesota State Fair. For over 30 years, drumHeart has delivered powerful drum music for community fundraisers, walks, and runs. Their repertoire includes original songs composed for the group, traditional West African music, and songs that feature African xylophone and Adenkum (African gourds traditionally played by women). The group also creates a carnival sound with Caribbean and Latin-influenced music. Through this variety, drumHeart delivers unique performances that leave audiences energized by world music.

Enso Daiko offers loud, energetic performances that combine music, dance, culture, and pure athleticism. The group regularly premieres new work adding their unique voice to the expanding canon and innovation of North American taiko. Through performances, studio classes and school residencies, Enso Daiko has taught thousands of students of all ages and abilities.

House of Dance Twin Cities is Minnesota's premier Hip Hop Dance studio located in Edina that specializes in teaching Hip Hop Dance, breakdancing, popping, and krump to people of all ages. Sessions consist of 30-minute Hip Hop dance/breakdancing performance followed by a crowd engagement section, when spectators will be able to learn a short and fun dance routine to take with them!

IBè is an award-winning spoken word artist.

Kalpulli Yaocenoxtli is a traditional Mexica-Nahua (Aztec) cultural group dedicated to preserving and sharing the dances, songs, and philosophy of Nahua traditions and culture. As co-founders of Kalpulli Yaocenoxtli, Sergio and Mary Anne Quiroz have been practicing, promoting, and teaching traditional Mexica (Aztec) dance and philosophy for over 20 years with their family.

Dance, discover, transform. Katha Dance Theatre’s storytelling dances of India will transport you to a magical world!

Based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Kristoffer Olson has performed his comedy magic or acted as Master of Ceremonies for well over a thousand events, from Anchorage to London, and many places in between. Kristoffer’s style of performance relies heavily on audience participation and improvisation, so every performance is different and you never know what will happen next! You may also recognize him as The Nerd at Saint Paul Saints games, where he has been a fan favorite dancing on the dugout and leading games between innings for 16 years.

Collaborate, innovate, and empower is the mission of this group as they take on a world stage with their original play The Beautiful Ugly.

Under the direction of Rebecca Moran Cusick, Los Alegres Bailadores brings the visually-captivating artistry of Mexican dance to stages throughout Minnesota. Their performances are an authentic, vibrant immersion into the rich culture and history of Mexico. Los Alegres Bailadores is dedicated to making this beautiful art form accessible, relevant and inclusive for all.

Markus Clegg has been performing magic professionally all over the United States for over 25 years. Originally from Illinois, Markus began his lifelong love affair with magic at a very young age. After performing his first professional show at age 12, he knew that magic was going to be his career. Markus has performed in cities all across the U.S. and around the world. During the summer, he can be found at CHS field in Saint Paul, Minnesota entertaining the crowds as his alter ego, "The Shark" for the Saint Paul Saints home games. Markus is also production manager for the Mystery Cafe, a murder mystery dinner theater in Minnesota.

Directed by Larry Yazzie, the Native Pride Dancers strive to educate and entertain audiences of all ages throughout the world on the beauty, skill, and majesty of Native American music and dance featuring dancers from various Tribal Nations.

Natyakala Dance Group's vision is to unite people together through dance and create platforms to spread the significance and greatness of Indian classical dance forms (Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyaatam, Kuchupudi, and Kathakali) by collaborating with the community.

Nritya Kalakshetra Academy of Performing Arts (NKAPA) was established in 2005 to promote multidisciplinary theatrical art works ranging in style from folk, classical, western, and contemporary to art lovers and patrons. NKAPA school is based out of Woodbury, Minnesota, and has raised the propensity towards the Indian classical dance, Bharatanatyam, and delivered many renowned classical dance forms to the Minnesota community through its students. NKAPA school has collaborated with state art schools, local communities, and organizations in Minnesota to conduct many charity events across schools, colleges, temples, etc. NKAPA is collaborating with interdisciplinary art forms and choreographers and working with acclaimed organizations in Minnesota, as well as many other US states like Texas, California, and Illinois, as well as Canada.

NKAPA school is founded by Sivanuja Balaji. She has been teaching, performing , choreographing, and promoting art forms for more than 28 years. She is a well-trained alumni of world-famous Kalakshetra, and a disciple of the great maestro late Adyar K Lakshman and Krishnaveni Lakshman. Sivanuja is also trained in Mohiniattam, folk dances of India and Carnatic music, as well.

NKAPA school is currently working on offering structured level exams for Classical art forms in Minnesota and other parts of states through an established and approved college Griffin Exam Board in London.

NKAPA students participated in an upcoming dance film called REFUGE. REFUGE was created by Minneapolis choreographer Jennifer Arave, and will be co-directed by award-winning filmmaker Philip Harder. The film is produced by Patrick Rile.

"NUNNABOVE is Minneapolis’ latest and greatest" – The Current

"This young sibling quartet from Woodbury has oodles of talent and potential. They impressed on the slinky soul original ‘Appreciate Me,’ the Disneyfied rocker ‘Project Cobra’ and ‘Fast Car Mashup,’ an inventive vocal workout incorporating several hits set to the guitar riff from Tracy Chapman's famous tune that landed the Nunns on America's Got Talent.” - John Bream, Music Critic, Star Tribune

Undeniably prolific, weaving in and out of a wide variety of fresh styles, with astonishingly rich musical imaginations. The group delivers on a distinctive sound that leaves the listener wanting to hear more.

NUNNABOVE - Connection (Official Music Video)

Oogie_Push is Bear Clan from the Meskwaki Nation near Tama, Iowa currently living and working on Dakota Territory also known as Saint Paul/Midway. She is an actor, storyteller, writer, bag weaver, and cat mom.

Fast, fun, and award-winning face painting!

Ritika Ganguly is a Minneapolis-based composer, anthropologist, and grant-writing consultant born and raised in New Delhi, India. Her consulting practice and artistic practice both strive for an equality based on difference, rather than on the similarity of things, people, and knowledges.She was commissioned as a composer by The Cedar Cultural Center in 2016, received the Naked Stages award in 2017, and an MRAC Next Step Fund award in 2018 for her research and new musical work in Baul (Bengali Sufi music/poetry). She has trained in genres within Bengali music and contemporary Indian musical theater. She was recently commissioned by the Minnesota Opera to compose a mini opera in Bangla. ‘Xylem’ is an opera without notated scores, sung in a South Asian folk opera format of stylized speech and narration.Ritika’s vocal, compositional, and coaching work pushes us to rely less on music notation and theory, and more on audiative practices that deepen our aptitude to hear and vocalize. She trains in the field with Baul poet-practitioners on what it means to develop aural skills in community.She received a Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Support for Individuals Award and a Jerome Foundation Finalist Award in 2021. She is also a recipient of the 2021 McKnight Composers Fellowship at the American Composers Forum. Ritika’s work during the fellowship period will continue to bring disparate musicianships, musical styles, methods, literatures, and disciplines together. She is a lover of loose, long-leaf tea, and has an impulse to connect with people over cha (tea).

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 for the purpose of providing great dance music for Twin Cities salsa fans. The musicians of Salsa del Soul represent some of the finest talents in the Twin Cities Latin music scene. The styles of music they perform include Son, Son Montuno, Plena, Cha-cha-cha, Bachata, Timba, and, of course, salsa! Salsa del Soul performs locally at restaurants and bars, jazz and Latin festivals, private engagements, and other locations and events.

Feel-good music from the heart of Africa

Renowned Congolese musician, Siama Matuzungidi is known for his catchy, upbeat songs, spirited singing, intricate guitar and traditional instruments like Mbira and Balafon. His wife/musical partner Dallas Johnson plays shakers and encourages everyone to sing together like Siama’s family did back in rural Bas Congo. Siama and Dallas perform concerts, festivals and library shows, they teach university classes and they especially love teaching K-12 classes via COMPAS and MPR’s “Class Notes Artists”. They've earned Smithsonian Folkways certificates and a Parents’ Choice Parent-Approved award and Siama is a McKnight Fellow and an MRAC and MSAB grantee.

A program of the Somali Museum of Minnesota, the Somali Museum Dance Troupe's mission is to empower Somali-American youth to dig deeply into studying their culture and embrace their potential to use art as a tool for building community as they grow into the next generation's leaders.

As one of only a few Somali dance ensembles in the United States, the Somali Museum Dance Troupe has built a powerful reputation within the Somali diaspora, and continues to impress audiences with their performances of traditional dances from all regions of Somalia. The Somali Museum Dance Troupe also brings together Minnesotans from diverse backgrounds to experience and embrace the beauty of Somali traditional culture.

Todd’n’Tina is a family-friendly music duo from Minnesota. We make goofy, fun, and ridiculous children's music! Check us out at toddntina.com or listen to our latest album "Dynamite!" on streaming services everywhere.

The Two Tap Trio will touch your heart and then get you up dancing! High energy traditional Irish music—jigs, reels, polkas, and songs—with a trio of outstanding musicians including Live Ireland's "Best Vocalist of the Year" Norah Rendell (The Outside Track) on song and flute, internationally-acclaimed guitarist Brian Miller (Bua, Atlantic Steps), and Mary Vanorny (Kickin' It Irish) on the fiddle.

Featuring daredevil stunts, jaw dropping tricks, belly-chuckling comedy, and a Fargo accent! The Unicycling Unicorn is a one-man entertainment powerhouse, suitable for all ages, and always an audience favorite. Make your festival a unique and magical time for all attendees to remember for the rest of their lives with the new roving floating flying unicorns!