Studio Stories: Reminiscing on Twin Cities Dance with Gary Peterson Season 1 Episode 20

Gary Peterson has been a part of Minnesota’s dance community for nearly 40 years. In addition to his work as managing director of Ananya Dance Theatre and research collaborator with Dr. Ananya Chatterjea, he has served as dance student, consultant, and as executive director of James Sewell Ballet, Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre, Zenon Dance Company, and the Southern Theater. He has produced professional dance performances at more than 300 domestic and international venues, including seven New York City engagements, Bermuda, Iceland, and Ethiopia. Gary’s perspectives are informed by experiences in law office management, legislative lobbying, federal multidistrict litigation, political candidacy, public affairs radio broadcasting, newspaper publishing, and by public service on the Washington staff of Senator Hubert H. Humphrey. In 2017-18, he secured the location and led the build-out of Ananya Dance Theatre’s Shawngram Institute for Performance & Social Justice in Saint Paul. He holds a BA degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota, and serves as a director of the Friends of the University of Minnesota Libraries.