REGIONAL - Residents of Winton may have noticed some busy dancers rehearsing outside the Winton Community Center this summer as the Reflections Dance Company (RDC) prepares for their annual summer show.
This year’s performance, to be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug. 11-13 at 7 p.m., and Sunday Aug. 14 at 1 p.m., at the Fine Arts Theater on the Minnesota North College, Vermilion Campus, is shaping up to be a very engaging production with three acts filled with live music, dancing, and visual images, according to Director Molly Olson.
“The company has been renting the Winton Community Center this summer, and sometimes there are more dancers than can fit into the space. Battling the bugs, dancing in the rain, and sweating in the sun are just some of the ways these dancers have shown their dedication,” Olson said.
“This show combines two of my passions, and provides a unique way to expose people to math. From zero to infinity, the show will tackle a number of math concepts. Audience members will have to approach the pieces with an open mind and may come away with a new way of looking at math,” she said. Olson is also the Northeast Area Gifted and Talented coordinator/math teacher based in Ely.
The show will be accompanied by a mixture of live and pre-recorded music. Led by musical director Irene Hartfield who plays keyboard, the Reflections Band includes Joey Kenig on guitar, Jef Cerniak on bass, Ellen Schertzer on cello, Howie Schertzer on sax, and Alan Phillips playing percussion and guitar.
Assistant musical director Karin Schmidt leads the choir, including Crystal Chopp, Andrea Strom, Emily Weise, Erin Bremner, and Ian Lah.
“Come for the dancing, but stay for the music. This group of local talents will keep your toes tapping, and you’ll be humming the tunes for days after the lights go down,” Olson said.
Former Ely resident Zack Baltich recorded two original pieces for this production. Binary is a piece derived from the binary code translation of the words, ON, OFF, ONLY?, ONLY!, and ! with the muted pipe representing “0” and the resonant pipes representing “1”. The drums switch roles throughout. Infinity Dreaming creates a soundscape that evokes repetition and continuity. Keiko Williams is featured playing violin in this unique composition.
“The dancers in the production range from youngsters just beginning their journey and learning their first steps, to adults looking for a fun way to keep dance in their lives,” Olson said. Choreographers Johnnie Hyde, Cora Olson, Molly Olson, and Crystal Poppler found creative ways to express math concepts through movement. Many dancers also contributed choreography for the pieces. Attendees will see counting, space, shape, time, distance, and infinity featured in the performance. 
There will be an art exhibit in the theater lobby centered around the theme of math. Quilts, hanging ornaments, paintings, and photography from children to professionals will be featured. The exhibit will begin on Monday, Aug. 8, and remain up through the final show on Sunday, Aug. 14.
Tickets for the dance performance are available on the NLAA website, and are $20 for regular, $15 for NLAA members, and $10 for youth 12 and under. Tickets will also be available at the door.
This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature’s general and arts and cultural heritage funds as well as a grant from the Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust.