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MNfusion: Colorful, Fun 'Animal Dance' Perfect For Young Audiences

Many parents want to expose their children to the world of the arts at a young age, but it can be difficult to know what performances are most appropriate for their littlest ones.

While the Minneapolis Children's Theatre Company does a wonderful job of accommodating families by offering a quiet room and creating shows with elements for almost every age, sometimes it can still be an overwhelming experience.

This was not the case at "Animal Dance."

Intended for preschool audiences, "Animal Dance" features a brightly clad narrator (Ann Carlson) and a number of real life farm animals.

Puppet Socks in 'Animal Dance'
(credit: CBS)

The show begins in the atrium of the Cargill Theater. Children, and adults, are invited to put on a pair of puppet socks and follow the animal tracks laid out across the atrium.

A CTC member comes out to address the audience and tell them the show will be starting soon. As the crowd is being addressed, Carlson sneaks into the room. Attention is drawn to her as she hides behind columns, peers around audience members and dances around the room.

She then stands in front of the doors of the theater and invites the kids to come in.

 

Ann Carlson in 'Animal Dance'
(credit: Dan Norman)

At the back of the space is a penned in area that has a grass floor and sky background.

Carlson enters the pen and begins to dance.

Dressed in a bright yellow suit, she moves around the pen explaining her love of dance and all the different dances one can do.

She wiggles her hand while doing a "hand dance," bounces in the corner of the pen demonstrating a "corner dance," and even does a "straight line dance."

Then, one by one an animal comes out. First a rabbit, then a tortoise, next a dog who is followed by a hen. Two goats finish out the animals in the pen and the show ends with a goldfish being wheeled out by the audience.

Carlson watches what each of the animals does in the pen and mimics their movement. Each animal gets its own dance.

For the tortoise, she pretends to race it. As tortoises do, it stays perfectly still merely blinking its eyes. So, Carlson created a "blinking dance."

For the goats, Carlson lets them play with one another, sniffing and walking around the pen. She then does a "sniffing dance."

As each animal takes a turn she explains that every movement, and every thing, can be made into a dance.

Children's Theatre Company's 'Animal Dance.'
(credit: Dan Norman)

 

This show fit its intended audience perfectly. While many shows claim to be for preschool ages, they can sometimes be too long, too complicated or too boring to captivate the wide range of ages included in that group.

"Animal Dance" is perfect for each of the ages intended.

Young ones can enjoy the excitement of the animals, while the older ones can understand the goofiness of Carlson in addition to the added fun of the movement and animals.

Carlson does a wonderful job playing to her young audience. Her words are simple and her actions are big and over-the-top.

She also lets the animals have center stage. As each one enter the pen, she lets there be silence as the kids focus on them. She, along with the kids, watches what the animals do and then reacts.

With live animals, each show must differ depending on how they choose to move. So Carlson's ability to improvise each performance is truly astonishing.

She also knows what movements will get the most laughs and which elements to pick out from each animal.

With the dog, she lets it chase her back and forth across the pen. With the goats, she brings a block out for them to jump around.

Of course, with live animals there is bound to be some excrement. Carlson plays with this picking it up in between each animal and singing a "p-o-o-p" song. As you can imagine, this is a huge hit with the 2 – 5 year-olds in the audience.

The show is just an hour, which ends up being a perfect length the keep a toddlers attention thanks to the ever-evolving cast of animals.

"Animal Dance" is a fun, furry and friendly show. It's welcoming environment, easy language and colorful elements make it a perfect show for any parent unsure if their child is ready to handle going to the theater.

"Animal Dance" is open now through May 1. Showtimes include 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 11 a.m., 2 p.m. 4 p.m. Saturdays; and 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sundays. Tickets cost $16 to $21. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Children's Theatre Company online.

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