ELY - Dancers with Reflections Dance Company here presented various styles of music and motion at Ely’s Historic State Theater last weekend. The four-day show attracted hundreds in the landmark venue.
“This show was all about the work and play that people throughout time have done in the Ely area. We centered on the themes of work and play in the Northwoods,” said Director Molly Olson “I know our dancers had a great time with it, and I hope our wonderful audiences enjoyed the weekend.”
The show included a variety of dance, ballet to contemporary, and polka to tap, including jazz, contemporary, and acro, as well as traditional Ojibwe medicine round dance and woodland style dance from the Bois Forte dancers.
“Work/Play” dance pieces were performed by local dancers of all ages, set to live music performed by local musicians Irene Hartfield, Jef Cerniak, Joey Kenig, Andy Messerschmidt, Beth Hokanson, Keiko Williams, Sarah Mason, and Bois Forte drummers Ryan Bajan and Kobe Adams. The choir included Karin Schmidt, Sarah Mason, Erin Bremner, and David Wigdahl.
The show opened with homage to the Indigenous people of the North Country and included dancers Dani Pieratos and Jordan Gawboy from Bois Forte along with drummers and singers. A Pow Wow video with historic meaning narration, a Grand Entry, Jingle Dress Dance and Men’s Woodland Traditional Dance were presented.
Throughout the afternoon performance on Sunday, photos provided by the Ely-Winton Historical Society were projected onto the screen partially lowered to leave space for the dancers to perform, adding a historic perspective to nearly every one of the 30-plus acts.
The show was dedicated to the memory of Olson’s father.
“He was focused on the intersection of work and play, and always tried to teach his children the importance of personal betterment through daily tasks,” she said.
The show touched on the historical significance of work and play in the Ely area, highlighting work such as ice cutting, mining, logging, laundry, house cleaning, waitressing, military, railroads, carpentry, farming, and office work. Topics of play presented included polka, circle dance, singing, paddling, fishing, dancing, and playing music.
Dancers incorporated many props to signify the varied tools that are part of work, and audience participation was encouraged.
Rehearsals for “Work/Play” began in early summer, but some dancers took classes with Reflections Dance Company all year, learning parts of the dances starting last October, according to Olson.
“The production is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, and with support from Northern Lakes Arts Association,” Olson added.
Reflections Dance Company classes will begin a new season on Oct. 3, and will include the 2021-22 production of “Math in Motion.”