TU Dance Celebrates 20 Years

St. Paul-based TU Dance hits a significant milestone this year. Founded in 2004 by Toni Pierce-Sands and Uri Sands, TU Dance is now celebrating its 20th year in operation. The dance company has been a mainstay of the Twin Cities arts scene for the last two decades. TU Dance is renowned for its dedication to meaningful storytelling and to building up dancers and choreographers, highlighting the work of Black artists and other communities of color. I had the chance to chat with Pierce-Sands as she looked back on the legacy of TU Dance. She also offered our readers a sneak peek at the upcoming 20th Anniversary Celebration.

“Reaching this 20-year milestone is both humbling and exhilarating,” Pierce-Sands says. “I’m reminded of those early performances at the Barbara Barker Center for Dance and later at the Southern Theater when we officially became TU Dance.” The company shortened its name early on, changing from Space T.U. Embrace to TU Dance.

The time between 2004 and 2025 has been eventful. “There have been so many incredible highs,” Pierce-Sands says. “Milestone performances, touring opportunities, and the growth of our school and community programs. Performing at the Ordway for the first time, collaborating with renowned choreographers and witnessing our dancers evolve as artists have been deeply rewarding moments.”

There have also been difficult times: the pandemic-related uncertainty of 2020 chief among them. “The enrollment at The School was impacted, and like many organizations, we faced moments of uncertainty,” Pierce-Sands explains. “The disruption to in-person instruction, the closure of spaces and the shift to virtual formats made it difficult to maintain the same level of connection and momentum with our young dancers.”

As public spaces began to open again, TU Dance rededicated itself to its mission. “We’re doing the hard work to reinvigorate,” Pierce-Sands says. “Our focus now is on the next generation of dancers, ensuring they have the training, mentorship and opportunities to grow into the artists they are capable of becoming. We are committed to investing in their development and nurturing in new ways.”

This work can be seen in multiple capacities. “Our CULTIVATE Trainee Program is in its third year, and we’re incredibly proud of how it has evolved,” Pierce-Sands explains. “It was developed in relationship to the continual evolving of the dance landscape; providing dance artists with a space to create and have financial sustainability, real-world experience and an intersectional approach that weaves their artistry and their humanity.”

TU Dance remains committed to introducing people to dance. “Since the inception of TU Dance, we have always extended an open invitation to dance — whether through training, performance, choreography or community engagement,” Pierce-Sands says. “That invitation continues through all of TU Dance’s work, creating spaces for artists and audiences to connect, grow and be inspired.”

The 20th Anniversary Season opened in December. “Our annual performance at the Southern Theater in December was with our upper-level Pre-Professional students and the CULTIVATE, Trainee Program,” Pierce-Sands says. “Returning to the Southern Theater in this anniversary season felt like a full-circle moment, marking our growth while honoring our roots.”

The performance was well received. “The energy in the theater was electric, making it the perfect way to launch this celebratory season with warmth and enthusiasm,” Pierce-Sands says. “Audience members were deeply moved, sharing how the performance brought them joy and lightness — something many felt they had been missing. For those of us dedicated to carrying TU Dance’s mission and legacy forward, it was incredibly rewarding to witness the School and CULTIVATE artists merge sensitivity, vulnerability and strength on stage.

There are two performances left in TU Dance’s 20th Anniversary Season: “TU Dance Celebrates 20 Years” (April 24-26) and the 2025 Student Showcase (May 16-18). So far, only the dates for the student showcase have been finalized, but the planning for the anniversary celebration is well underway.

“Our team is deeply immersed in preparations, making sure this performance reflects the richness of our artistic legacy,” Pierce-Sands says. “We wanted to honor some of the choreographers who created work that has been integral in TU Dance’s evolution.” These choreographers include names that might very well be familiar to our readers: Alvin Ailey, Camille A. Brown, Alonzo King, Ronald K. Brown and Yusha-Marie Sorzano.

TU Dance’s anniversary performance aims to highlight the skill and creativity of each choreographer while celebrating TU Dance as a whole. “Each [choreographer] bring[s] a unique style and sensibility, and part of the beauty of this process has been weaving their distinct voices into a cohesive and powerful performance,” Pierce-Sands says.

There is a lot to look forward to in the 20th Anniversary performance. “A TU Dance alumni, now a professional dancer, will perform an iconic Alvin Ailey solo; our CULTIVATE trainee dancers will take part in a celebrated work by Camille A. Brown; two former Alonzo King LINES Ballet artists will perform a duet by Alonzo King, bringing his signature choreographic vision to the program; Ronald K. Brown’s Four Corners will unite TU Dance alumni, current students, CULTIVATE trainees and local professionals; and Yusha-Marie Sorzano’s commissioned work for the Whitney Museum adds another profound layer, offering a vision of dancers carrying the world forward.”

The 20th Anniversary Celebration has been lovingly planned and choreographed to showcase TU Dance as a whole. “These works not only showcase the breadth of movement and storytelling but also highlight the ongoing legacy and evolution of TU Dance,” Pierce-Sands says.

“TU Dance Celebrates 20 Years” will be at The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University at 7:30 p.m. on April 25 and 26. Tickets are $40, and there are senior and student discounts available. There is an educational performance on April 24 at 10:30 a.m. Tickets can be found on The O’Shaughnessy website or by phone, both of which are listed below.

Ultimately, this celebration of where TU Dance has been and where it is going is focused on the humans at its heart. “This milestone is about all of us. We wanted to create a celebration that not only honors our journey but also welcomes those who may have never experienced dance before,” Pierce-Sands says. “Our hope is that this anniversary performance serves as a tribute to the audiences who have grown with us, embraced our artistry and become part of the continuous growth of TU Dance.”

There is a lot to celebrate, given the length of TU Dance’s history and the breadth of its impact. “It’s incredible to reflect on the journey — how the company has grown, the artists who have shaped it and the communities we’ve touched,” Pierce-Sands says. “More than anything, it’s a celebration of the joy, resilience and artistry that have carried us through two decades. This season feels like both a tribute to our past and an exciting step into the future.”

TU Dance is always looking forward. “We will keep our finger on the pulse,” Pierce-Sands says. “With love and dedication, we remain committed to this promise: to nurture, uplift, evolve and ensure that dance remains an accessible and deeply impactful force in the community.”

TU Dance
Tickets: oshag.stkate.edu/events/
O’Shaughnessy Box Office: (651) 690-670
Website: tudance.org