“Water gives life, and takes it away as well. This central theme will hopefully evoke a strong response in our audience.”
In 2018, Ely was swept away by the creation of Reflections Dance Company and their inaugural concert, Reflections on Water. This celebration of the place we call home, honoring the vital resource we all treasure, resonated deeply with the community. Now, almost seven years later, Director Molly Olson is diving back into this theme with Water 2.0, a production set to premiere in the summer of 2025.
With a clever nod to H2O and their previous exploration of water’s role in our lives, Water 2.0 takes the concept further by delving into important issues like pollution, water access, and climate change. “The first production went throughout the four seasons, looking at various ways water is embedded in our lives,” says Olson. “This time, we will delve into pollution, water access, and climate change.” By venturing into these deeper, and more worldly topics. Olson is determined to make Water 2.0 both an artistic and thought-provoking experience.
Reflections Dance Company is a vital part of the Northern Lakes Arts Association’s annual programming, bringing the joy of movement to people of all ages and abilities. Since its inception, the company has provided a safe space for community members to express themselves through physicality. With classes in tap, ballet, contemporary, and even acrobatics, the company offers a variety of styles that allow for boundless creativity.
Olson emphasizes the importance of play in the company’s rehearsal process. “We use play as a way to inspire our movement. It’s a great way to utilize imagination and explore new ideas,” she says. One recent exercise involved a dancified version of freeze tag to explore the molecular process of water turning to ice. Dancers moved fluidly through the space until encountering a frozen dancer, eventually transforming into a unified block of ice. Exercises like this highlight the playful energy that fuels the company’s repertoire, bringing a raw and organic quality to their work. This playful approach allows for spontaneity and authenticity, and at times it lends an intentionally unrefined and dynamic quality to the pieces.
The varied styles taught at Reflections Dance Company provide unique perspectives on water’s many forms. “The adult jazz piece is looking at the power and destruction of a hurricane from the water’s point of view—what if it feels like a wild party?” says Olson. Other pieces take on equally creative and diverse themes: tap dancers explore the classics with a reinterpretation of Singing in the Rain, while contemporary choreography delves into the emotional symbolism of tears, showing water as both a source of healing and sorrow.
Each piece in Water 2.0 tells its own story, some playful and lighthearted, others deeply reflective. This diversity creates a deep pool of perspectives, ensuring there’s something for everyone in the performance.
The creation of Water 2.0 has been a deeply collaborative journey. To begin the process, the company hosted a visioning art night in November at the Ely Folk School, where participants created poems, collages, paintings, and drawings centered around water’s significance in their lives. These artistic creations serve as the foundation for the choreography, sparking ideas that are translated into movement and music. “Sometimes the music leads the way, inspiring the dancers’ movements, while other times, the words and images shape the structure of the work,” Olson explains.
Local musicians are also contributing to the production, working with Olson to craft a soundtrack that perfectly complements the dances. The music selection process is as meticulous as it is creative. Olson shares, “It’s a challenging puzzle to select music that will be the right style to fit the dance, as well as align with the concept in the piece.” This thoughtful curation ensures that the music enhances the mood and narrative of each performance, creating a cohesive and emotionally resonant show. While the utilization of local talent, ensures that the work the Northern Lakes Arts Association is doing continues to uplift regional talent during its programming.
While Water 2.0 celebrates the beauty and power of water, it also carries a vital message. Olson hopes the audience will leave the performance with a greater appreciation for water’s role in our lives. “Water gives life and takes it away as well. This central theme will hopefully evoke a strong response in our audience,” she says.
The Winter Showcase serves as a crucial milestone on the road to the full production of Water 2.0. This event provides audiences with a preview of the works-in-progress while giving dancers and choreographers valuable feedback. “The Winter Showcase is an important milestone. It gives each class a goal to focus on and a way to show families, friends, and supporters what we have been working on,” says Olson.
By sharing their creative process with the community, Reflections Dance Company invites audiences to connect with their journey and gain a deeper understanding of the themes at play. The Winter Showcase is not just a performance—it’s an opportunity to engage with the community and build momentum for the full production in the summer.
With Water 2.0, Reflections Dance Company continues its mission to bring the joy of movement to the community while addressing critical issues facing our world. By combining diverse dance styles, imaginative storytelling, and a strong message of conservation, the production promises to be both an artistic triumph and a powerful call to action.
As Olson reflects, “Performing for the public brings out the best in the dancers, and it reminds us why we do this work: to connect, inspire, and honor the place we call home.” Reflections Dance Company isn’t just creating art—they’re building a movement, reminding us all of the beauty, power, and responsibility that water represents.
Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Reflections Dance Company Winter Showcase: Water 2.0 on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the Minnesota North College, Vermilion Fine Arts Theater.
Your presence is more than just support; it’s a contribution to sustaining the arts in our community. Come be inspired, connect with the magic of movement, and help ensure the future of programs like these.
Let’s make a splash together—see you there!
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