SHAPESHIFT, a Minneapolis dance collective, whose founder performed with Prince’s band 3rdEyeGirl, and which has danced in front of 20,000 strong at Xcel Energy Center, was created on the fly. Creative Director, Ashley Selmer and a collective of then nine dancers, joined together to create a one time show for their generation – something fresh and
innovative that would feature all types of dancers from various socio-economic backgrounds, trained in dance styles from hip-hop, contemporary, to modern and Ballet.
SHAPESHIFT’s self-titled production at the New Century Theatre in Minneapolis, sold out to rousing applause and standing ovations, moving their audience to tears. That got the attention of presenters and audiences, which began to build. The company followed-up with more sold-out performances with their debut of “Grey Skies Blue” at the Cowles Center in February 2016. In April 2016, Ordway Center for Performing Arts, St. Paul Minnesota asked them to headline their Annual Spring Fete andto perform at their Flint Hill Festival in May that same year.
SHAPESHIFT also has received national exposure and recognition, when they were approached by the Canadian
based organization “Feed the Children” aka We Day, to perform with National Recording Artist, Natalie La Rose at the Xcel Energy Center in front of 20,000 screaming young fans in 2015, followed up by another smashing performance with International Recording Artist, OMI at Xcel in September 2016. During this amazing event, SHAPESHIFT also
choreographed and performed an original piece, in response to a performance challenge from international star, Paula Abdul. SHAPESHIFT then closed out a banner 2016 withna performance with Capitol Records Recording Artist, Tori Kelly at Prince’s Tribute Concert in October at the Xcel Energy Center in front of another packed house!
Soon thereafter, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts booked SHAPESHIFT’s production of GSB for a successful eleven show run in October 2017. GSB tells the story of a summer of friendships, tackling complex themes of family dysfunction, sexual orientation, love, and betrayal. Since that performance the company has been in constant demand booking performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center in NYC, throughout Minnesota, as well as performances with Jennifer Lopez and Justin Timberlake as part of Super Bowl LII; and community-basedevents in the Twin Cities and in outstate communities. Among other notable social media and news publications and outlets, SHAPESHIFT has been the spotlight featured on Twin Cities Public Television.
