I am continuously amazed at the amount of talent and generosity there is in the Yankton area. When you add that spirit of giving to a genuine passion for art, you can end up with some pretty amazing results! One of the goals of Yankton Area Arts is to promote the arts within our community.

This week I am excited to share an upcoming event that will be taking place this fall.

Over the past few weeks, I have been talking with some very dedicated volunteers who are working diligently to organize a performance of Ballet Magnificat! right here in Yankton.

Ballet Magnificat! is a world-class full-time professional Christian ballet headquartered in Jackson, Miss. One of the constants I have seen among the organizers of this event is the excitement they share in bringing it to Yankton. Through our conversations, I have discovered what a neat opportunity this is for our residents.

Ballet Magnificat! will be performing “The Scarlet Cord” at Yankton’s Summit Activities Center on Friday, Oct. 30. The production is inspired and loosely based on the Biblical account of Rahab, but set in the background of the communist Soviet Union.

Ballet Magnificat! describes it as depicting, “the story of Rahab the harlot, party official Vladimir Ivanovich, and the undercover missionaries Aaron and Anna Grimes, as well as those pressed down by the iron fist of the Soviet government. This tale of betrayal, love, dedication, and ultimate sacrifice paints a portrait of an offering brought before our amazing Savior.”

Tickets will be available starting Sept. 15. They can be purchased for $16 at the Academy of Dance, which is located at 1902 Broadway Avenue, from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

On Saturday, Oct. 31, the Ballet Magnificat! company will also be teaching workshops starting at 9 a.m. and running until 4:30 p.m. The workshops will be available for area students in first through 12th grades. Registration is open and forms can be obtained at the Academy of Dance during the open hours noted above. The schedule includes classes in ballet technique, variations, jazz and creative worship.

For further information on the performance or workshop, please contact the Academy of Dance at 605.665.7729.

Art can be defined many different ways by many different people. In my opinion, one critical component of art is the passion the artist has in creating his work, which is often only matched by those who appreciate it. There is a tremendous amount of passion behind the effort to bring this opportunity to Yankton and I am looking forward to the upcoming performance! If you would like further information on Ballet Magnificat! — visit their Web site at www.balletmagnificat.com.

YAA Calendar of Events:

• through September 29 — Mighty Mo Photo Show featuring area photographers at the G.A.R. Hall Art Gallery

• September 12 — “The Stavig Letters,” sponsored by The Vermillion Area Arts Council 7 p.m. at the Washington Street Arts Center, Vermillion.

• September 19 — Rockin’ Ribfest — in Historical Downtown Yankton.

• September 30 — The 10th annual Youth Art Show Deadline- call for art deadline Arts & Antique Gallery, Tyndall.

• October 3 — Lost Art Series “Bead & Quill work as a form of Plain Decoration” presented by Larry Ness at G.A.R. Hall, 1 p.m.

The G.A.R. Hall Gallery and Yankton Area Arts office are located at 508 Douglas Avenue, Yankton. The gallery is open to the public free of charge from 1-5 p.m. weekdays and from 1-3 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information, contact Pam Meylor, YAA executive director, at (605) 665-9754, via e-mail at Pam@YanktonAreaArts.org.