WADENA — It was a night to remember — one many Wadena girls and their parents won’t soon forget.
The Moment in Time Dance Co. hosted its second annual winter recital on the evening of Friday, Dec. 13, and the auditorium at Wadena-Deer Creek Elementary School was packed with an appreciative audience cheering on the more than 70 dancers that eventually took the stage.
“That’s over double our enrollment from last year,” said Maddi Horn, owner and director of the dance company and WDC High School dance coach.
The
Wadena-based dance company
initially offered classes in various dance styles and techniques including jazz, tap, hip-hop, ballet and more for ages 3 to 18 when it opened last year.
Frank Lee / Wadena Pioneer Journal
Friday’s winter dance recital at the elementary school on Colfax Avenue encouraged the dancers to “believe in your-elf.” The recital lasted for about two hours with 34 numbers that were about two to three minutes apiece.
“We have a lot of really compelling and dynamic soloists, so I think some of those might be crowd-pleasers as well,” Horn said watching the dancers rehearse. “But I think a fan favorite is our all-company number where all of our dancers dance all together at the end or the finale.”
Frank Lee / Wadena Pioneer Journal
Lacey Schmidt could barely contain her excitement. The 4-year-old fidgeted in her costume in a hallway at the elementary school before the recital began.
“So excited!” said Lacey Schmidt, when asked about her “shuffle steps” group dance number.
Mother Amanda Schmidt is a newly elected WDC School Board member and a downtown business owner.
“She loves dancing all the time — the music, the costumes, the hair-doing — all that,” said Schmidt, a Wadena resident.
Horn said the goal was to sell 200 tickets to Friday’s dance recital and believed the goal was surpassed.
“Last year, this was kind of a dream-turned-reality, and now it’s like I’m living this fantasy world every single day, so it’s been so fulfilling and so rewarding,” Horn said. “Every single day, I wake up and I go to bed grateful for what I do every day.”
For more information about the Moment in Time Dance Co., call 218-851-4519 or email
. Or find the group on Facebook at
.
FRANK LEE is the features writer for the Wadena Pioneer Journal. He may be reached at 218-631-6470 or at
.
Frank Lee is a multi-award-winning journalist and features writer for the Wadena Pioneer Journal. The weekly newspaper is owned by Forum Communications Co.
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