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The driving force behind EDT, Donald LaCourse serves as artistic director, lead dancer, choreographer, cultural researcher, and costume designer.
Mr. LaCourse began folk dancing at the age of four. At age seven, he decided to make it his career† when he first saw Duquesne University¥s Tamburitzans Dancers. Mr. LaCourse became a member of Edelweiss St. Paul, a German folk dance troupe, at age 10. He danced in this troupe and in musical theatre productions until 1973, when he moved to Seattle to join The Koleda Folk Ensemble (where choreographer Mark Morris was also a dancer). In 1974, Mr. LaCourse returned to Minneapolis and co-founded EDT.
Mr. LaCourse has completed a dozen international research trips in order to learn dance techniques, research costumes, and to better understand the cultural context of his work. The Autonomous Republic of Northern Ossetia (Russia), Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Spain, and Costa Rica are just a few of the countries which he has visited. Nationally recognized for his choreography, Mr. LaCourse was commissioned to create work for the Chimera Theatre, the Radost Folk Ensemble of Seattle, and Avaz International Dance Theatre in Los Angeles. He has also appeared as a guest artist with the Minnesota Opera, the North Star Opera Company, Katha Dance Theatre and Dolina Polish Folk Dancers.
EDT's outstanding national reputation as one of the most diverse and distinctive repertoires to be performed in the world of ethnic dance is a direct result of Mr. LaCourse's dedication, acumen, and artistry. To contact Mr. LaCourse, e-mail: dlacourse@ethnicdancetheatre.com.
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