Our History

The Lundstrum Studio began in the 1920's when a 15-year-old named Dorothy Lundstrum took over the Acension School of Dance with her two sisters Lorraine and Marion. Dorothy launched what proved to be an amazing legacy on the north side of Minneapolis. Thousands of children and youth growing up in this community studied dance, charm and fashion there. As the Twin Cities' suburbs developed, parents drove their children great distances to study with Dorothy Lundstrum. When she passed away in November 1998, North Minneapolis lost a principal arts benefactor. For over 80 years, she mentored thousands of students, teaching positive behavior, self-worth, and good citizenship, as well as dance and movement. Despite the increasing economic challenges, rising poverty, and crime in the North Minneapolis neighborhood, Dorothy never wavered in her commitment to bring exceptional opportunities for successs to her students.

The Legacy Continues

Dorothy willed her studio and life's work to the five Casserly sisters, Sue, Amy, Kerry, Laurie and Janie, daughters of her lifetime pupil and friend, Lois Melsha Casserly. In June 2000 the doors reopened with an expanded curriculum specializing in training for Broadway Musical Theatre, creating a New York to Minneapolis network for visting and local performing artists. Today a full performing arts curriculum capitalizes on the Casserly's professional expertise in music, voice, dance and acting for the stage and camera. The Lundstrum Center for the Performing Arts is dedicated to fulfilling Dorothy's mission.

In 2004 the Lundstrum Center had to leave its original home at Acension School due to the school's expansion. The Center struggled to find a permanent space for its work that would also allow it to continue to serve the North Minneapolis community. Although this time was difficult, they did not give up -- their students inspired them to continue. After renting space and running programs at 3 separate locations, finally in August 2006 the Lundstrum center purchased a brand new building located at 1617 North Second Street.

Why North Minneapolis?

North Minneapolis was the center of art and culture for many people in the first half of the 20th century. However, highway construction, movement away from the central city and changing economic conditions caused the deterioration and neglect of the arts on the North Side. This is now changing thanks to a concentration of effort by many artistic and community partners, and the Lundstrum Center is proud to be a part of this change. Located in the heart of North Minneapolis near I-94 and downtown, it is an ideal spot to bring a "mini-Juilliard" for Broadway arts in their own neighborhood and for youth longing for creative outlets.

Within the last 10 years of reopening our doors in 2000 the Lundstrum Center has proudly served students of diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Approximately 60% of our students have been residents of North Minneapolis, an area with a population of roughly 67,000 and a poverty index of 36%. 60% percent of students come from African, Asian, Latino and Native American backgrounds. Over 40% of students received tuition assistance in the form of grants, scholarships and waivers. These generous benefits were funded by annual financial gifts from Lundstrum Center benefactors.

The University of Minnesota's Center for Research in Educational Improvement concluded in its research over the last decade that involvement in the arts improves both student and academic achievement along with student behavior. With this in mind, the Lundstrum Center is committed to planting the seeds of possibility in every child who enters its doors. Whether students are just passing through or preparing for a career in the arts, the Lundstrum Center vows to instill its founder's belief that every person has dignity and is a unique gift to our world.