Reviews from the press:

"...they celebrate the joys (mainly) and pitfalls (occasionally) of drinking...All in all, this was one of the most enjoyable Fringe performances I've seen." -John Olive, Howwastheshow.com

"I'll be surprised if this Fringe produces anything as moving and heart-racingly joyous as Jeffrey Peterson's Champage, an exultant celebration of love set to Queen." -Rob Hubbard, Pioneer Press

Check out the Reviews tab for audience reviews

The door is open and dancers are waiting inside.

Drinks provide the fuel for five different dances. Minnesota Fringe Festival veterans Jeffrey Peterson, Gina Louise, Christine Maginnis and Danielle Robinson-Prater join Sara Stevenson Scrimshaw to present a show of booze and celebration. Whether you are a happy drinker, a sad drinker, or a non-drinker, whether you like to party like a rock star, have a contemplative glass of whiskey by yourself, or prefer to drink tea, you are invited to our happy hour of dance. On the menu:

Gina Louise uncovers the legendary and seductive absinthe in a classic striptease, (Photo by Nick Vlcek)

DRP Dance explores the heat and complexity of an Argentinian Malbec fueled by a tango, (Photo: Jeff D. Larson, My Mother Told Me, Minnesota Fringe Festival, 2010)

and Sara Stevenson Scrimshaw ventures into a bar in search of a glass of whiskey.

The show ends with Jeffrey Peterson's 11.6.2012, choreographed in recognition of the upcoming amendment vote and raising a glass of champagne to toast marriage equality for all.

(Photo by Stan Waldhauser)

Cast + crew

Gina Louise
Role: Choreographer/Dancer

Gina Louise is a burlesque performer, instructor, and producer. In 2011, she founded The Playful Peacock Showgirl Academy where she delights in teaching the art of burlesque. She is the founder of the Best of Midwest Burlesk Festival, an annual event since 2008 featuring regional and national performers that has played to sell-out crowds every year. She's proud to be a founding member of Lili's Burlesque Revue, a critically acclaimed variety show since 2004, and an original cast member of Le Cirque Rouge, Minneapolis' first nouveau-burlesque troupe in 2003. Her production experience includes original cabarets, corporate events, private parties, fundraisers, and more. With a background in dance, Ms. Louise has found great joy in modern burlesque with its rich history and infinite possibilities for reinvention. Performance highlights include Exotic World, The Burlesque Hall of Fame, Minnesota Fringe Festival, and the Underpants Show. Choreography credits include The Mary Tyler Moore Show at Torch Theater and Queens of Burlesque at History Theatre. (Photo: Pixie Vision)

Christine Maginnis
Role: Choreographer/Dancer

Christine Maginnis, a former longtime member of Zenon Dance Company, has recently enjoyed performing with the Ballet of the Dolls, Off Leash Area, Denise Armstead, Zhauna Franks, Penelope Freeh, Debora Jinza Thayer, Jim Lieberthal, Cathy Wright and James Sewell. Her work has been presented by the Red Eye Collaboration, L-1 Dance Lab in Budapest, MDT, Renovate and the 2010 Minnesota Fringe Festival. Christine has enjoyed teaching dance at the U of M and is a past recipient of a McKnight Fellowship for Dancers.

Jeffrey Peterson
Role: Choreographer

Jeffrey Peterson creates choreography with the aim to connect with audiences through avenues both intellectual and kinesthetic. In this, his third consecutive appearance in the Minnesota Fringe Festival, he is excited to share another dance work that challenges our social fabric. Dubbed “…poetic precision…” by Rick Nelson of the Minneapolis StarTribune, Peterson’s work utilizes music and movement to present topics of cultural concern.

"Thinkingaview," a smash hit in the 2010 Minnesota Fringe Festival, was called "riotous foray into romantic gestures and full body contact," by Camille LeFevre of City Pages, and dubbed "...an easy Fringe show to Love," and named the "#1 Fringe Show to See" and "by Matthew A. Everett of Twin Cities Daily Planet. In 2011's MN Fringe Festival premiere of "Stand Up," Peterson used bold, suggestive, and cliché movement to unabashedly unravel female stereotypes, the objectification of women, and modern feminism. "Jeffrey Peterson's sassy "Stand Up" is all attitude...ending the show on a rather thrilling note of power and determination." - Camille LeFevre, mnartists.org

Beyond the MN Fringe, Peterson's work has been commissioned by Dance New Amsterdam’s "In The Company of Men," Movement Research at Judson Church in New York City. He’s been produced by the Dancenow/NYC Festival at Joe’s Pub and Joyce SOHO; Rhythmically’s Speaking’s “Principles of Pulse” and “Groovers and Makers;” The Rabbit Show; The Bryant Lake Bowl; as well as Dixon Place’s “Moving Men.” His work has appeared at Patrick’s Cabaret, Kinetic Kitchen, and Intermedia Arts. Peterson holds an MFA in dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. His professional work includes performing with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, JAZZDANCE by Danny Buraczeski, ARENA Dances by Mathew Janczewski, Stephan Koplowitz's Grand Step Project, Clare Byrne Dance, DELiRiOUS Dance, and The Minnesota Opera. Peterson has created work on students at Gustavus Adolphus College, The University of Minnesota-Morris, Old Dominion University (VA), Saint Mary’s University – Winona, and Hamline University, as well as for Zenon Dance School, The Children’s Theatre Company and the Perpich Center for Arts Education. For the last three years, he served on the dance faculty at Gustavus Adolphus College, teaching Jazz, Modern, and Contemporary Partnering.

This is a farewell performance of sorts for Jeffrey, as he begins a new adventure this fall as an Assistant Professor of Dance at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. He would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that have supported his work in the Twin Cities -- Fellow Educators, Members of the Press, Friends, Family -- you have been very good to me: THANK YOU so very much!!

Danielle Robinson-Prater
Role: Choreographer/Dancer

Danielle Robinson-Prater is the founder/artistic director of DRP Dance, a professional modern dance company based in Minneapolis, MN. DRP Dance has been exploring movement together since 2004, performing at numerous Twin Cities theaters and in greater Minnesota. Danielle is a 2011 graduate from Hamline University, receiving a dual master’s in Nonprofit Management and an MBA, and has a BFA in dance performance from The Ohio State University. Danielle currently works as the Managing Director of Zenon Dance Company and School. She has had the pleasure of performing and studying with numerous choreographers and companies and has fulfilled many roles as an Independent Dance Artist, including teacher, board member, producer, choreographer, dancer, artistic director and most importantly mother to two darling children. (Photo: Scott Pakudaitis, Minnesota Fringe Festival 2007)

Sara Stevenson Scrimshaw
Role: Choreographer/Dancer

Sara Stevenson Scrimshaw ("lanky livewire", mnartists.org) first performed in the Minnesota Fringe Festival in the very hot summer of 2001, when kind audience members fainted for her while she was busy cartwheeling around the stage in a non-air-conditioned venue in the dance opera "We." Sara has appeared in the Minnesota Fringe with DRP Dance, John Munger's Third Rabbit Dance Ensemble, the American-Russian Dance Company, English Scrimshaw Productions, and last year's production of "Highlander: The Musical" by Rooftop Theatre Company.

Sara has produced three previous Fringe shows, "My Mother Told Me," "Mansion of Dust," and "Dance of the Whisky Faerie." Exploring partnerships between storytelling and dance, they earned her rave reviews for giving non-dance audiences an invitation into a dance show. When not performing, Sara manages Joking Envelope with her husband Joseph (check out Joking Envelope's Fringe show, Nightmare Without Pants) and she manages the tour program at the James J. Hill House. She will also be in select performances of Stop Talking: A Game of Talking as The Timekeeper. (Photo: Scott Pakudaitis, Minnesota Fringe Festival 2008)

Stephanie Fellner
Role: Dancer
Stephanie Fellner's favorite color is purple and she always enjoys her after-show flute of champagne.

Heidi Kalweit
Role: Dancer
Heidi Kalweit has danced professionally for Zenon Dance Company, 45 Chartreuse, and many local choreographers. She currently works with DA Dance and is a practitioner of Massage and Zen Shiatsu at Spot Spa.

Stephanie Narlock
Role: Dancer
Stephanie Narlock, performer, choreographer, teacher and artistic activist, produced her own Fringe show in 2011 and has worked with Robin Stiehm and Black Label Movement. She always appreciates the earthly wisdom she acquired being raised on a Wisconsin farm as it helps her to cope with big city life.

Katherine Arndt
Role: Dancer

Hollie Edlund
Role: Dancer
Hollie is a senior dance major at Gustavus Adolphus College. Stephan Koplowitz and Stewart Pimsler are choreographers she has had the privilege to work with in her dance career thus far. She is excited to perform at the Fringe Festival!

Renee Guittar
Role: Dancer
Renee Guittar is a dancer and choreographer from Lincoln, Nebraska. Renee is a recent graduate from Gustavus Adolphus College and has recently performed throughout the country with illusionist Jared Sherlock. She is also performing in Connectome and Dance Money Grind .

Crystal Pelletier
Role: Dancer
Crystal Pelletier graduated with a BFA in Dance from the University of MN in 2008. She currently performs with Eclectic Edge Ensemble and is a teacher at 4th Street Dance Center.

Krista Ripperton
Role: Dancer

Erin Simon
Role: Dancer
Erin Simon is a recent graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College where she was a member of the Gustavus Dance Company. This is her third Fringe, and she's very happy to be back!

Rebecca Stewart
Role: Dancer
Rebecca is a Junior at Gustavus Adolphus College majoring in Dance and Psychology and is a member of the Gustavus Dance Company. She would like to thank Jeffrey Peterson and Sara Stevenson Scrimshaw for this wonderful opportunity!

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User reviews

A fine show.
by Eric Salo
Rating 4 stars
I particularly enjoyed the Whiskey and Malbec pieces but all of the dances were good.

Sugar drunk fairy
by Aseem Kaul
Rating 4 stars
I think I may have been too sober to appreciate this one. The tango, as other reviewers have remarked was stunningly beautiful, everything else was fairly meh. The second piece, in particular, was a chaotic mess, the striptease was just cheesy, and the last piece had its moments (I liked the bit with the dancers holding their arms behind their backs) but went on too long. I would have given this show three stars, except the tango blew me away.

Loved it!
by Bill Corbett
Rating 5 stars
Saw the final performance this afternoon, and loved it from beginning to end. Great concept, each dance wonderful and enjoyable on its own terms. And the mix of material / styles / themes / music was PERFECT. Bravo!

fine choreography
by Clark Kinser
Rating 4 stars
Very nice choreography, and lovely interaction between the dancers. A fine effort from all involved.

Happy, Indeed
by David Rust
Rating 4 stars
This celebration of the human form moves and weaves its way across the stage as beauty made personified. Each segment, each dance, represents a different drink. From whiskey to champagne, the dancers present their stories to the audience with foot and hand, body and soul.

It is a good, solid production. While my favorite of them were "Whiskey" and "Absinthe", the whole show is worth seeing. It can be hard, a few times, to understand what some of the dances have to do with the drinks that inspired them but that's not really the point. The point is the opposite: beautiful dance is inspired by the theme.

Flawless & Gorgeous
by Katherine Kupiecki
Rating 5 stars
I heard so many glowing recommendations for this show- and I’m so glad I listened! Absolutely beautiful dance work, under the fabulous idea of celebrating libations. Each “drink” was compelling and perfectly executed. Solo pieces and ensemble work are equally solid and absolutely delicious! Do not miss this one.

Great ending
by Jacob Edholm
Rating 3 stars
The ending, 11.6.2012, which included an exciting group of talented dancers, was fantastic! The tango was also good.

fun!
by Claire Avitabile
Rating 4 stars
I saw a LOT of dance shows this Fringe and this one for sure was my favorite. Loved the variety (thank you! finally!), but also loved how there was a unifying theme and eventhough there was a huge variety of pieces/performance/dance-styles, it all made sense together in one show. Lots of fun.

more like Awesome Hour!
by Patrick Pfundstein
Rating 5 stars
The show opens with three great pieces; happy, totally whack, and lushly beautiful. The second half of the show operated on a slightly lower level (a couple mostly because of brevity) with the finale slightly heavy-handed, but still providing a great emotional payoff. Happy Hour almost makes me want to start drinking, definitely makes me hope DRP has better lottery luck next year, and has me thinking of going back Saturday afternoon just for one last sip of Vodka! (Really freaky vodka!)

Bubbly, dangerous
by Roger Rosvold
Rating 5 stars
5 good, solid pieces; each emphasizing different aspects and presenting them in wildly varying voices. Exciting and fun, invigorating and honest. And a little bit celebratory.

Add this to your list if you have not already - 1 show left!!

Some but not all
by Will Weisert
Rating 4 stars
While I enjoyed the performance, the ensemble segments just didn't draw me in quite in the same way as the solo and duet pieces. Interesting concept that, for the most part, carried quite well through all five dances.

Sensitivity, Subtlety, & Mad Skillz
by Zachary Crockett
Rating 5 stars
This is my favorite fringe show so far!

I am a composer and was extremely impressed by the music. They pulled from a broad selection, and the editing was creative and careful.

Each piece was its own world, but they were well unified as a show. My favorite was Vodka for its overall breadth, long arc, gradual costume changes, powerful imagery, and subtle depth. I also loved Malbec—so sensual!

The performers managed to convey a range of sensitivity and expressive attention, focus, and body language that I normally expect of good actors but not necessarily from even excellent dancers—these women are both! THAT is what I hope for in any performance!!!

200 Proof
by John Middleton
Rating 5 stars
Full disclosure: I'm quite good friends with many of the potables referenced in this piece. But, come on! Champagne made me cry and Vodka blew my mind. Inventive, fun and engaging from beginning to end. Cheers!

Sara rules!
by Levi Weinhagen
Rating 5 stars
There are some really strong, wonderful pieces in this assortment of dance. I think the show is strongest in the few middle pieces (Malbec in particular) and way too heavy handed at the end but overall full of play.
Go see dance, go see Sara, go see this!

Dances of booze and celebration
by Roy Close
Rating 5 stars
A lot of good dancing packed into less than an hour. My favorite was the Vodka quartet "Plunging Sirens," choreographed by Christine Maginnis and danced by Maginnis and three others, a somewhat raunchy, bawdy tribute to rock divadom. Sara Scrimshaw Stevenson contributes an engaging solo, Gina Louise a danced striptease, Danielle Robinson-Prater a tango-flavored duet for herself and Stevenson, and the show winds up splendidly with Jeffrey Peterson's "Champagne: 11.6.12," effectively performed by the Gustavus Adolphus Dance Company. Potpourri programs like this often are a mix of hits and misses; this one clicks from start to finish.

Mixology in Motion
by Ron Burgundy
Rating 5 stars
A cute mélange of all things alcoholic. My personal favorite was the ode to vodka - wow can those girls move! Another highlight is the tango duet. The two women had moments of such amazing synchrony, it was a real visual treat.

BYOB
by Scott Pakudaitis
Rating 5 stars
I loved this show - the variety of performances, the incredible skill of the dancers, and the inspiration for the show. Christine Maginnis' piece (inspired by vodka) varied from light into deep darkness and was sprinkled with ample humor throughout. During Gina Louise's green fairy piece I wished that I would see that kind of apparition when I drink absinthe. I was especially moved by Jeffrey Peterson's piece inspired by champagne. The joy and exuberance of the dancers was so contagious that I felt my heart smile upon the piece's completion.

Intoxicating
by Will Freiert
Rating 5 stars
An intriguing concept for a dance program, supported by strong choreography and very talented dancers. Stevenson Scrimshaw and Robinson-Prater's "Malbec" is simply elegant.

Absinth Personified
by Andrew Berton
Rating 3 stars
A clever interpretation centered on feelings and alcoholic revelry of the Happy Hour. Some great individual moments but the BEST of the lot is the sequence focused on Absinth! Entrancing, exotic, and completely mesmeric performed by a very talented dancer - for this alone, I would see the entire shown again... Andrew B

Moved by beauty and movement
by Dana Bogema
Rating 5 stars
Great interpretations of different liquors all on one stage in series of acts.
<3 to Gina Louise, the intoxicating enchantress in Absinthe.
Then, to all the ladies in the Vodka piece... that use of music covering so many different aspects of booze and drugs ...it actually made me cry.
A Freddie Mercury tribute...<3 sigh....
Beautiful work by all.

Excellent show!
by Jimmy Leduc
Rating 5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this show. I loved the themes and how each piece was executed. The choreography was vibrant and exciting. The dancers were superb. I highly recommend this show!!

Best Dance Show of the Fringe
by Allen Vandover
Rating 5 stars
Way to tell a story from piece to piece. The vodka dance had to be my favorite beacuse of the content, but all pieces were very well done. Great idea for a dance show! This was by far the best dance show I saw at the Fringe this year.

Pro Pay, Huh?
by Brian Watson-Jones
Rating 5 stars
Terrific dance interpretations of the various drinks. Scrimshaw's control during the whiskey dance was particularly impressive, and while the champagne dance took a while to connect, by the time it got to... wait, no spoilers... by the time it got to the song "Somebody to Love", I was almost crying with weird joy. Just a lovely piece. And, hey, Green Fairie burlesque. I will never argue with that. Terrific dance piece, and its run has barely begun.

Wowza!
by Dwayna Paplow
Rating 5 stars
This show is the reason I kick myself for not seeing more dance while at the Fringe. Included with admission: free bubbles, a variety of dance styles, and a love-it or hate-it finale. Nothing better than dancers who are both talented and tongue-in-cheek.

enjoyable show
by sara riegle
Rating 4 stars
I really enjoyed Happy Hour. The dances had clear points, yet many still had moments that allow you to project your own interpretations. The bubbles were a fun touch!

Enjoy Yourself
by Richard Stryker
Rating 5 stars
I loved the tango number. The large cast of dancers and the exciting music make this an enjoyable show. I'm happy I liked Happy Hour.

Perfect
by Howard Lieberman
Rating 5 stars
Perfect blend of skill, passion and irreverence. A perfectly delightful Fringe show.

A little tipsy
by Amy Bonifas
Rating 4 stars
The very first dance performance I've seen and enjoyed it very much. Whiskey and the beer interlude were favorites.
Also ... bubbles!

Good, but not what I was expecting
by luann monahan
Rating 4 stars
A fun, energetic show with dances revolving about alcohol and drugs. Well done, but not sure I was the target audience for this show. Others were laughing at times while I was simply trying to understand the message being delivered with each act. Again, good but not what I was hoping for.

Treasure chest
by Gregory Abbott
Rating 5 stars
This dance piece is a real treasure -- from the beer-induced party to the green silken dancer.

Lovely liquid ladies
by Carin Bratlie
Rating 4 stars
A delightful concept with both expected and unexpected results. A nice variety of styles, each suited to their chosen drink. Fringe is a great place to experience dance, and this one does not disapoint!