Join Zenon Dance in celebrating over 43 years of enriching lives through dance education, performance, and outreach. Give to the Max Day offers you the opportunity to partner with us in creating a vibrant, connected community that recognizes the importance of dance in empowering individuals of all ages.

With your support, we can make a significant impact in the lives of dancers, instructors, choreographers, and accompanists this fiscal year. Please consider donating on Give to the Max Day, November 20, and help us reach our $30,000 goal this fiscal year. Every dollar truly counts!

We are facing budget challenges due to recent funding cuts and award cancellations, but we remain committed to supporting our artists and dance students. With your help, we can bridge this funding gap and continue to expand our programming, positively impacting our community and the talented dancers we serve. Together, we can make a difference!

Will you join our campaign and contribute this Give to the Max Day? Your support helps provide:

– Youth Scholarships for dancers aged 3-14

– Collaborative outreach activities through innovative community partnerships

– Affordable dance classes for adults via our Xchange volunteer program

– Paid opportunities for outstanding local choreographers, instructors, and accompanists

– Guest artists for workshops for youth and adults each season

Join us today and help create a world where the transformative power of dance is accessible to everyone. By supporting Zenon Dance School, you will play a vital role in making a meaningful contribution to our community and building a brighter future through the joy of dance—one dance class at a time!

About Zenon Dance

Established in 1983, Zenon Dance Company and School has been a cornerstone institution in the Twin Cities dance community for over 43 years. Situated on the 4th floor of the Hennepin Center for the Arts in downtown Minneapolis, our two beautiful studios provide a welcoming environment for dancers of all ages and levels.

Zenon Dance Company (1983-2019), led by founder and artistic director Linda Z Andrews, was a premier modern and jazz repertory dance company based in the Twin Cities known for its stylistic diversity, fearless physicality, and emotional intelligence. The company had garnered national and international acclaim for commissioning and performing works by a wide range of acclaimed choreographers. After 36 years, Zenon Dance Company shuttered in 2019 and remains highly regarded in the dance world for its innovative approach and significant contributions to the Minnesota and global dance communities. 

Zenon Dance School is a prominent dance institution offering a wide array of dance classes for youth and adults of all experience levels, known for providing high-quality instruction in a welcoming environment. The school serves a diverse population of recreational, pre-professional, and professional dancers, with an average of 4,000 students per year. While the associated Zenon Dance Company shuttered in 2019, the school has continued its mission of transforming lives through movement and sustaining artistic excellence in dance education.

In the NEWS! In the Summer of 2025, the City of Minneapolis approved Zenon Dance as the lead educational programmer at the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts while collaborating with Arts’ Nest, which will oversee the facility’s and performance venue’s overall operations. This partnership aims to revitalize the center, turning it into a lively hub for dance in the Twin Cities and the surrounding region.

In its new role as the operator of educational programs, Zenon Dance will:

– Organize workshops and classes led by guest artists for the Twin Cities dance community.

– Create both an on-site and virtual dance education platform that showcases the diversity and creativity of the Minneapolis dance scene.

– Develop a comprehensive dance education program, cultivating partnerships with local schools, artists, and performing arts organizations.

Arts’ Nest will manage the facility, staffing, maintenance, and performance programming within the center’s theater. The city of Minneapolis approved this collaborative operation plan in July 2025, with an anticipated grand opening set for 2026.

Programs

Zenon Dance School offers four sessions of classes each year, featuring over 25 adult and youth classes per session. We cater to recreational, pre-professional, and professional dancers with a diverse curriculum, including traditional styles such as ballet, modern, and jazz, as well as hip-hop, afro-modern, and belly dance. Our faculty boasts over 40 of the region’s leading teachers, dancers, accompanists, and choreographers, each bringing unique expertise to their classes.

The Dance Zone program at Zenon provides three levels and a unique platform for local dancers and choreographers to collaborate and create innovative performances. Intermediate to professional dancers are selected through an audition process and participate in weekly classes and rehearsals to refine their skills, culminating in a showcase featuring local guest artists. We’re excited to announce the launch of a new Zone program called “Block Z,” designed specifically for advanced dancers. This pilot initiative for the current session aims to support dancers interested in pursuing careers in the dance field. 

ZenONLINE offers a virtual platform for movement classes, allowing independent artists to share their teachings with students worldwide. Dancers from Minneapolis to Madrid have joined us, fostering a global community of passionate movers. ZenONLINE continues to provide online and hybrid classes each week, spreading the joy of movement.

With a highly experienced faculty, diverse curriculum, and the unique Dance Zone program, Zenon Dance School provides an unparalleled educational experience for dancers of every level.

Access Programs

The Youth Outreach Program is a charitable initiative that promotes education and personal growth among young people through dance. It offers need-based scholarships covering 50% to 100% of enrollment fees for classes or camps, ensuring that every young individual has the chance to develop new skills, pursue their interests, and build confidence, regardless of their financial background.

Zenon Dance Zone offers an adult dance program for all ages and levels, including those with diverse dance backgrounds seeking to deepen their practice. This intensive, subsidized program enables dancers to enhance their skills and grow in their art.

The Xchange Volunteer Program provides students the exciting opportunity to earn dance class credits while making a positive impact through volunteering, both in person and online with ZenONLINE.

At Zenon, you can explore a wide variety of dance styles. With over 40 of the region’s most talented and experienced teachers, dancers, accompanists, and choreographers, you’ll find the inspiration to push your limits and achieve your dance goals.

At Zenon Dance School, we believe in the potential of dance to change lives and strengthen communities. Your support will allow us to continue providing exceptional dance education and outreach programs for individuals of all ages.