
Save the date for the 8th Annual CANDY BOX Dance Festival!
April 22-27, 2024
The Southern Theater
Full program announcement coming November 2023
The CANDY BOX Dance Festival is a week-long dynamic sampling of featured performances, masterclasses, and in-progress showings, hosted by ARENA DANCES and presented April 22-27, 2024 at The Southern Theater. The CANDY BOX Dance Festival features both emerging and established choreographers, Happy Hour work-in-progress performances, and master class offerings.
Learn more about our most recent 7th Annual CANDY BOX Dance Festival below for an idea of what’s to come in 2024!
7th Annual CANDY BOX Dance Festival
Premiered April 24-29, 2023

TICKETS ON SALE NOW
FEATURED ARTISTS:
Berit Ahlgren (HoneyWorks)
J’Sun Howard
Megan Mayer
HAPPY HOUR ARTISTS:
Lily Conforti
Shane Larson
Rachel Lieberman
Nic Lincoln
Javan Mngrezzo
Laurie Van Wieren
Cheng Xiong
The CANDY BOX Dance Festival, presented by Mathew Janczewski’s ARENA DANCES, is an annual, week-long, eclectic gathering and dynamic sampling of featured performances, masterclasses, and work-in-progress showings.
CANDY BOX Dance Festival is a unique celebration of dance, packed with a wonderful assortment of various tastings that include renowned choreographers, accomplished dancers, and fresh movement styles all perfectly packed into one sweet treat of a week. It is an opportunity for diverse emerging and established artists to share the performance stage, with the addition of selected artists leading intimate workshops to offer a welcoming space for communal movement education, and in doing so gathering a range of tastes for varied audiences. From Featured Artists performances by nationally notable choreographers and collectives, to Happy Hour showings by exciting local dancers and emerging creatives, CANDY BOX is sure to offer a flavor for every performing arts enthusiast to savor and enjoy. Along with daily performances and masterclasses hosted throughout an impressive six day streak, question-and-answer sessions are offered for additional insight and rare sneak peeks into the engaging works created and designed by each artist exclusively for the festival. Audiences are sure to experience a wide array of artistry, offering a unique flavor in every bite.
“Establishing a career in dance can be challenging and isolating. That’s why coming together every year like this is so crucial; it creates the learning opportunities and personal connections people need in order to realize their full artistic potential. And by extending the support of the dance community to the next generation of talented makers, we help keep the scene vital and strong.” – Mathew Janczewski, Founder + Artistic Director of ARENA DANCES
The Southern Theater
1420 S Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454
ARENA DANCES asks that anyone experiencing symptoms of or recently exposed to COVID-19 refrains from attending the festival. At this time, masks are optional at The Southern Theater.
MASTERCLASSES
Schedule:
Daily, 4:00 – 5:15pm
- Monday, April 24 – Shane Larson
- Tuesday, April 25 – Cheng Xiong
- Wednesday, April 26 – Megan Mayer
- Thursday, April 27 – J’Sun Howard
- Friday, April 28 – Berit Ahlgren
Tickets:
$25 Five-Class Package | $10 per class
Walk-ins welcome. Cash/check/card accepted at the door.
All Masterclass ticket income and Masterclass donations goes directly to the artists.
Purchase Masterclass Tickets HERE
HAPPY HOUR ARTISTS
Schedule:
Daily, 5:30 – 6:30pm
- Monday, April 24 – Nic Lincoln
- Tuesday, April 25 – Cheng Xiong and Javan Mngrezzo
- Wednesday, April 26 – Shane Larson and Rachel Lieberman
- Thursday, April 27 – Laurie Van Wieren
- Friday, April 28 – Lily Conforti
Tickets:
$25 Five-Show Package | $12 per show
Walk-ins welcome. Cash/check/card accepted at the door.
All Happy Hour ticket income and Happy Hour donations goes directly to the artists.
Purchase Happy Hour Artist Tickets HERE
CLICK HERE for the HAPPY HOUR program
FEATURED ARTISTS
Featuring works by Berit Ahlgren (HoneyWorks), J’Sun Howard, and Megan Mayer
Schedule:
- Thursday, April 27 – 7:30pm
- Friday, April 28 – 7:30pm
- Saturday, April 29 – 2:00pm // Pay-As-Able pricing option available at the door ONLY
- Saturday, April 29 – 7:30pm
Tickets:
BEFORE April 23: $21 online in advance | $18 student/senior
AFTER April 23: $25 online + at the door | $18 student/senior discount
Purchase Featured Artists Tickets HERE
CLICK HERE for the FEATURED ARTIST program
MEET THE ARTISTS
Click each photo to learn more!
Featured Artists:
Happy Hour Artists:
We extend a special thank you to our Season Sponsors and Event Donors:



This festival is also made possible with the support of the following:
