Anthony Nordan offered our invocation. Bob Russell introduced as his guest Jake Hexum and then proceeded to painlessly administer a Rotary Minute Plus quiz, with all five questions answered correctly. Brags and Fines: Brian - Leona Zimmerman says “Hello” from her new location. Keith - Put in a few dollars for missed meetings due to vacation in FL. He shared a few highlights Kathy A. - For missed meetings. Kathy is just back from India where she was with children in Calcutta helping to build a bamboo facility for tutoring and other services. Announcements: Honorary and long-time Rotary Member David Lundeen died the Wednesday morning of our meeting, February 26, 2020. Anthony - Next service project is the water safety Josh the Otter book. Program: Molly Everts Johnston - Co -Director of DanceBARN Mission: DanceBARN Collective is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to creating dance opportunities in rural communities. Molly and her business partner Ayumi Schaeffer of Minneapolis began with a Festival piilot study in 2015. The Festival was designed to bring in dance professionals to Battle Lake for a 5 day opportunity to share ideas, creative processes and dance experiences. It has evolved today to a multi-tiered organization that encompasses: The Festival - for professional adults from all over the country convening in Battle Lake, MN. A Youth Camp - for grades 6 - 12 to study dance and experience a sleep over and camp attracting students from North Dakota and Minnesota. DanceBarn on the Road - Molly and Ayumi have been presenting at national conferences - such as the National Dance Educators Association, Minnesota Rural Arts and Culture Summit, Women in Dance Leadership Conference, Rural Women’s Summit on the arts. Choreographic Residencies: in Moscow, Idaho, the University asked then to integrate the Farmers Market and the University. DanceBARN has appeared on public television in “Postcards” Episode documenting both the festival and the residency and a guest company “Current Harbor”. Also appeared on the PBS NewsHour where Molly was interviewed about dance in rural areas. Forging partnerships within the Fergus and Battle Lake area including Community Partners, Lakes Area Community Center, Fergus Falls School of Dance, Xanadu Resort and Springboard and LA CC.
Thank you to Molly for sharing your insights on DanceBARN and dance opportunities in our area.
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