Minnesota Dance Theatre & the Dance Institute announces new Executive Director               

Minneapolis, MN, Monday, July 21, 2008 - Minnesota Dance Theatre & the Dance Institute announced today the hiring of Morris J. (Morrie) Hartman as its Executive Director, effective July 21, 2008.

MDT&DI Board Chair Lynn Carlson Schell states, “The Board and I are thrilled that Morrie will join MDT&DI as our Executive Director. Morrie has demonstrated leadership, management and development capabilities and a love for the arts.  He has long been an advocate for the arts and non-profit organizations in and around the Twin Cities and coupled with his skills as an attorney, his experience will prove most useful to MDT&DI. I know that I speak for the entire board when I say how delighted we are at the prospect of working with Morrie.”

MDT&DI Artistic Director Lise Houlton states, “My colleagues and I at MDT&DI are absolutely delighted that someone with Morrie’s enthusiasm, skills and experience will be our Executive Director. We couldn’t be happier.”

A native of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, Morrie Hartman received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota and his Juris Doctor from the William Mitchell College of Law. He is a veteran of local civic and arts boards, and he has been practicing law for many years in for-profit business settings. An amateur pianist and singer, Mr. Hartman says that he is deeply honored at the opportunity to lead MDT&DI, applying his passion, training and experience to the arts.

Minnesota Dance Theatre & the Dance Institute

Minnesota Dance Theatre was founded in 1962 by Loyce Houlton, and it is one of the state’s most well-known arts organizations, perhaps most recognized for its annual presentation of the holiday classic, “Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy.” MDT&DI consists of the performing arm, The Minnesota Dance Theatre, and the school, The Dance Institute. (The Dance Institute is the successor to the former Ballet Arts Minnesota and the School of the Minnesota Dance Theatre, which merged in 2006.) Combining a respect for classical ballet traditions with cultivation of contemporary dance, MDT&DI is headquartered in the Hennepin Center for the Arts in downtown Minneapolis. Minnesota Dance Theatre’s 2008-2009 performance season runs October 2008 through April 2009. Artistic Director Lise Houlton is the daughter of founder Loyce Houlton.

For more information, visit www.mndance.org or call the Minnesota Dance Theatre & the Dance Institute at (612) 338-0627.

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